Yoder Tradition

On my mother's side of the family when an individual had their 13th birthday they were honored by everyone else. This honoring included a short discourse on the individuals life. This discourse was given by the Patriarch himself, Grandaddy. All the uncles and aunts would put money together and purchase a special gift for the new teenager. This was a very special thing for all the grandchildren. It made us feel grand. Here is the speach that Grandaddy gave on my special day.
Aug. 29 1986
Glendon Eugene Zehr. Who is that?
Born Aug. 25 1973 This day joins the elite circle of teenagers. Glen is an unusual boy. He does things differently from most. When I first saw him I felt he had an interesting life ahead. He has had trouble with his ears since he was 5-6 years old. Most folk arn't favored this way. When he was eight he had staph infection in his hip joint. No one knows how that got inside as there was no opening. He was in the hospital with this for awhile. (Editor's note: two weeks) The Drs. at Brookenal were dumbfounded.
Two years later he had Cat Scratch Disease. Jon Alan plays with the cats and Glen gets the disease. Again the Drs. are scratching there heads.
Last year Glen had Pura Para (Editors note: I am not sure this is the correct spelling and I can't quite read the Patriarchs hand writing.) a severe alergic reaction which could cause hemoraging internaly. He was not hospitalized for this. Again Drs. were puzzled and about decided when Glen comes they just as well send him to Lynchburg. This year again, true to form, he contracted something that was aboce the Brookneal Drs. head. They all but crawled under the chairs and out the windows when they saw him coming. They knew he had something they knew nothing about. They sent him on to Lynchburg where the Drs. decided he had Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever.
Now Glen had never been to the Rockys but that didn't stop him. He spent about a week in the hospital for this. Two tests were sent off, both coming back negative. Maybe the Lynchburg Drs. are dumbfounded now. For according to that test no one knows what Glen had.
Glen has always loved children. He is very outgoing something we should all cultivate. Glen as you continue through life put your best foot forward. Give God the glory and no one will be able to stop you.
Ernest Yoder.
Did your grandparents honor you in anyway in a public setting?