The American dream

July 3, 2015 | (11) Comments

Anyone who sits with me long enough is bound to hear a story or two about my upbringing in the church. Some of my best memories as a child are of times spent there with my family. One of my absolute favorite memories is of our church’s Fourth of July picnic at Odom Lake.

It was one of the grandest events of the year for our church, and all the families would come. In total, about 400 or 500 of us turned out. The ladies all brought coleslaw, potato salad and other side dishes, and the church provided the fried chicken or barbecue. And every single family had their White Mountain ice cream maker in tow. I remember how my brother Greg and I would take turns making the ice cream – he’d sit on top while I cranked, and then we’d switch. We always made either vanilla, banana or peach ice cream.

I loved how generations of families were there – grandparents, parents and all the kids. We’d play softball, volleyball and horseshoes, and it was just a really good time. One of the parts that amazed me most was what happened after dinner. As the sun set, Brother Hugh Bumpas, our pastor, would wade into the water, as the entire congregation gathered along the banks of Odom Lake.

Brother Bumpas would give a sermon, always acknowledging our courageous military men and women, and we’d sing patriotic songs before he began the baptisms. He would baptize about 25 or 30 people every year, right there in the lake on the Fourth of July, and I always thought that was pretty awesome.

Then once it was dark, the fireworks show started. Everybody settled down on their blankets with their families, and we’d watch the fireworks light up the sky and crackle down over the lake. The show went on for about an hour, and it was the best ever. Celebrating the Fourth of July is one of my best childhood memories. The fireworks, the families, the friends … the freedom to fellowship just as we pleased. It’s something I think about every year as we acknowledge our country’s Independence Day.

My family joined hundreds of other Baptist families by that lake to celebrate in a way that was special to us. And all over the nation, every year, other families celebrate this same holiday in countless ways that are meaningful to them. That’s one of the strengths of our great nation. We were founded on principles of freedom. The freedom to dream and to pursue what’s important to each one of us. And our country became great because we grew into a place where dreams could be fulfilled in a way that they could not be elsewhere. Our founding fathers pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in support of these freedoms.

Texas Children’s Hospital began in much the same way. Our founding fathers, Jim Abercrombie and Leopold L. Meyer, committed a generous amount of their fortunes to found Texas Children’s in 1954 with the conviction that every sick or hurt child could come here for care, regardless of race, religion or ability to pay. More than 60 years ago, they had the vision and embraced the freedom to create a place where healing was not limited, where all would be welcome. And to this day, we are still deeply rooted in this belief.

Every day, we advance that legacy by pledging our sacred honor to care for all the children, women and families who come to us for help and healing. So when I think about the Fourth of July, my mind immediately goes to the food, fun and fellowship we enjoyed by that lake so many years ago. But what settles in my heart today is a deep appreciation for the freedom we all enjoy to strive for whatever we define as the American dream.

Happy Fourth of July and God bless.

11 Responses to “The American dream”

  1. Kim Nordin

    What wonderful, blessed memories! We had a huge baptism service at our church yesterday. What a sight. Thanks for sharing. Felt like I was there watching you make that homemade icecream 🙂

  2. Lance Lightfoot

    Thanks for sharing your great memories. The 4th of July has always been a special holiday for me and my family as well. Family, friends, food and fireworks!

  3. Yolanda Roberts

    What a heartfelt wonderful memory. God has blessed you to be able to have a positive impact on so many lives. Thank you so much for sharing your memory; I could almost feel that excitement that you had doing that time while reading your story. 

  4. newshia augustine

    what an amazing sharing.Everytime your story is inspiring so many people.you are such awonderful person who has so many good memories to share which can be a good example for many to follow.I thank God for giving such a principled leader.

  5. David Walding

    What a wonderful memory. Thank you for sharing Mark, bless you. So often we take for granted our great heratage and freedom that cost so much. We are always just one generation away from oppression when we forget that.

  6. Diane Kent

    Thank you for sharing, I am still smiling. I can smell the smells and hear the laughter. It makes my heart smile. I love Texas Children’s, I think as much as you do. I am very proud to be a part of it. God Bless America, Texas Children’s and you and your family My Wallace.

  7. Patrick Walker

    As some of us may have heard, “So as the family goes, so as the church goes”. There is one thing we can say about the family is it’s one of the most important values we support here at Texas Childrens. I really am glad to read about Mark Wallace’s family memories as a child and hope to hear more. They reminded me of my own and the importance of family worth.
    I want to give thanks to God first for blessing our country and to thank all the people who make Texas Children a great place to work.

  8. Ann Behrens

    Some of my favorite 4th of July memories are when my children were young and we attended Houston’s First Baptist Church. All of our family joined our Church family at a country club for a day of festivities, capped off by a gigantic fireworks display. In 1985 when we moved our church membership to Katy, our new church family had a similar day. Games, food, fellowship and tons of fireworks! What special memories. Thanks for sharing yours, Mr. Wallace!

  9. Benjamin Price

    Mark,
    I always enjoy your stories. I can relate to so many growing up as a southern Baptist in south Louisiana. I clearly remember baptisms in the lake, homemade peach ice cream with the rock salt, and Sunday picnics that we called “Dinner on the Ground.” Thanks for sharing.

  10. Abel Saldivar

    Thanks for sharing these memories Mark. I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July as well. I was lucky enough to spend this 4th of July weekend with Family and Friends as well.

  11. Alene Whitesides

    Reading your story brought back memories for me also. We went to MS to stay with my grandmother every summer. She had a country store along the Hwy with not much to do but use our imagination. There were no electronics! We went to Okalona MS to the park about 15 miles away every 4th of July. We swam all day long, played on the playground with my brother, sister, and cousins. We ate all the wonderful food prepared by my mother and grandmother. Then the evening culminated with watching the fireworks over the lake when dark struck. It was magical!

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