There is much to celebrate as well as to learn from my clients and friends, Dave and Holly Ganong. When listing their land on Rogers Road no, they didn’t sell their house!, Dave quoted a wise saying: “Don’t wait to buy land. Buy land and wait”. The acquisition of over 400 acres of land has undoubtedly been a great investment for the Ganongs. But even greater has been their investment into their marriage, family, business, church, and community.
“She was my birthday present,” Dave said, reflecting on their wedding day, Aug 19, 1972, and referring to his wife of 50 years. Growing up only three miles apart, Dave and Holly married and settled in Long Point, NB. They built a home, family, and business, and have devoted their entire “quiet, country folk” lives (how Dave describes himself) in serving others. Ganong Enterprises Building Construction put more than just food on the table and numerous awards on the mantle. It allowed countless families to move into custom built and renovated homes (never spec). When they weren’t building homes, the Ganongs were always “building others up” (1 Thess 5:11) and volunteered during their summer vacations at Living Waters in Maine. Now into retirement, Dave and Holly continue to “make the best use of their time” (Ephesians 5:16), spending time with their children and grandchildren, always seeking to extend a friendly smile and handshake at church and volunteering now with SOWERS – Servants on Wheels Ever Ready.
Yes, don’t wait to buy land. Invest in real estate! But don’t forget as you’re building your portfolio, to align your efforts with the value in serving and building others up. Because the return of that will be far more precious to you than land or money. Thank you to the Ganongs for your example in this. May the Lord bless you and keep you (Numbers 6:24-26).
