Byron Beck

At first sight, Byron Beck’s stern countenance frightened children. He scowled and spoke in a loud, gruff voice. His wife Billie helped him run the Western Auto Associate Store in Shattuck, Oklahoma. She did most of the talking to customers, only turning to Byron when someone needed a plumbing fixture or electrical part. Byron was loud, it turned out, because he was nearly deaf. Which also explained his scowl. When you can’t hear, you feel left out and set aside on the shelf of life. It’s frustrating.
I caught a glimpse of the real person behind the gruff exterior when I brought in the back wheel from my 5-year-old daughter’s bicycle. The bike was a $5 garage sale bargain, with solid rubber tires. A few riding lessons promptly shredded the back tire. I couldn’t fix those solid rubber tires, but Billie told me Byron could. I brought him the wheel and his gruff face broke into a wide grin. Sure, he could fix it! He put the new semi-pneumatic tire on the roof of the store, where it got hot enough to stretch over the rim. He could true up spokes, too, if I needed them done. I could swear his eyes twinkled. What a transformation!
It turned out that Byron and I had two things in common: one was a love of bicycles and the other was delight in seeing happy children riding them. Byron grinned every time I returned to buy a bicycle part. I bought handle grips and bike chains sometimes just to see him grin.
Some people can’t stand children. I remember a frustrating visit to my great-uncle and his wife. They were childless, but did have a Chihuahua named Montgomery. Our first born son was just learning to walk and we as proud parents were eager to show him off. To our dismay, all my great-aunt wanted to talk about was that little dog Montgomery. How insulting!
Byron Beck loved children. Anyone who does holds a special place in God’s heart:
“Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
Children a reward from him.” Ps 127:3

“ Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.” Proverbs 17:6

God has a special concern for children: “A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.” –Psalm 68:5. No doubt about it, anyone who loves kids is on God’s side. No wonder gruff old Byron could smile at a father fixing up a bike for his child. Kids are special in God’s sight.