One flatter of a platter!

If you have read Tug's Life very much then you will remember me writing about my papaw, "Paw" Ed Spencer. I've often mentioned how he was such a great preacher and loved by so many people. He was one of the founders of my church, Highland Baptist. You can read about the church history on the History page on our website.

There are only a few remaining people at Highland that remember my grandfather Spencer, probably around a dozen folks. One of those, Joanne McMillan, has been a member of our church since she was just a little girl. She always speaks very fondly of her memories of preacher Spencer and all of my family. My papaw presided over her and her husband Ralph's wedding.

This morning Mrs. McMillan presented me with something that I will forever cherish. It's the commemorative plate that you see in the attached pictures. It was made in 1964. Highland Baptist was only 22-years old the time the plate was made. The pastor at that time was the Rev. W.C. Cardwell. It shows the old church building that was built in 1942 and it has a brief history of the church on the backside. It is trimmed in 14K gold plating. It is a beautiful plate and is in pristine condition.

I feel very flattered, humble, and honored that she would give this plate to me as a gift. I've handled it with extreme care every since taking possession of it. I'm trying to decide on the perfect place to display it in our home. All of my kids think I'm silly because I'm making such a fuss over it. "It's just a plate," they say. They laughed and giggled when I gingerly pulled it out of the bubble wrap and protective paper it was wrapped in and took several pictures of it. They are right, it is just a plate, but if they only knew what it means to me. Perhaps one day they will understand.

The picture below is my papaw Spencer baptizing someone. I lifted it off of THIS post that I wrote on Tug's Life over 2-years ago. My, what I'd give to be able to go back to that time and be sitting on the bank watching as he did this. I know I can't do that in real life but through something small like this plate that was given to me, I feel like a little piece of him is still with me.