“I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.” – Genesis 41:41
Call George! Why George? Because when someone asked George to do something, or when George was given responsibility, you could “take it to the bank” as they say, that it would get done right and on time. George lived by the principles which Dan Sullivan described in his book How the Best Get Better as the “referability habits.” That is, “show up on time, do what you say, finish what you start, say please and thank you.”
When George Woodley showed up at the doorstep of my dad’s business many years ago, fresh out of the army, newly married, and looking for work, it was a godsend. My dad didn’t know that at the time, of course, but it didn’t take long before his work ethic, dependability, faithfulness, integrity, and capability became obvious. It’s not unlike the Biblical story when Pharoah discovered similar qualities in a young Hebrew fresh out of prison named Joseph who he quickly promoted. “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt,” the Pharoah declared. It didn’t take my dad long either to reach the same conclusion, promoting George and placing him in charge of the whole operation.
For the next twenty-two years, until the business was sold, my dad grew to depend on George more and more, for everything from managing the business to his personal life. Whenever he needed help, or a problem solved, he knew he could depend on George. Except, sometimes when overwhelmed by a problem he would forget, until my mother would remind him not to worry, “just call George.” Eventually, he and his wife Ruth became like beloved members of our family and have remained so to this day.
I had a fantasy recently, imagining the Lord seeking my dad’s counsel. Daddy just looked at the Lord and shrugged, “No problem,” he said, “just call George.” “Good idea,” the Lord replied. So, he called George – calling him home. Oh, that everyone could be blessed with a George in their lives as our family has been all these years. Even more, if only more of us would live by George’s example, a man full of years, married sixty-eight years to his high school sweetheart, Ruth, the love of his life, who together raised a fine family, was a faithful and dependable servant not just to my dad but to many; a good neighbor, a fine citizen, a man of deep faith and an impeccable reputation; one who if anyone ever needed anything, all they had to do was call George.