Happy first Father’s Day in Heaven dad. I had you for Father’s Day on earth for 59 years and I love knowing that this day and every day you are in the presence of the Father of us all, God the Father.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 ESV
This picture represents my age when I remember going squirrel hunting in KY, because your dad loved to eat squirrels. I remember following you through countless little hills and hollers (if you’re from KY). You carrying that single shot, bolt action .22 and me a pocket knife in hand in case any squirrels came running by us. My job to stop, open the knife, catch the squirrel and well, you get what I was supposed to do next. Never happened but I was always ready and believing that it might happen.
Dad, thank you for expanding my horizon. For teaching me to see beyond what was visible. I remember those family hikes when you would jump up on a boulder and start your speech as a man running for political office. I remember you stopping to show us a fern growing through the crack in a tree and helping us marvel at this wonder and the wonder of God. I remember you taking a simple vine and making an afternoon’s fun filled with laughter as we swung through the woods. I remember your drawing our minds to Jesus as we found a tree that looked like a cross, saw clouds that revealed God’s glory, witnessed a rainbow that acknowledged God’s promise. I remember you always drawing our minds to Christ in what we saw and what we experienced.
Dad, I work with men now who in many instances were not blessed with a father in their life. In other instances their father was not a positive influence and in a few, rare cases they had a present and loving father. I had a present and loving father who struggled with his own doubts and circumstances but was present. You turned down career “opportunities” to be with your family, understanding this role was the greatest assignment you could ever be given in this life. Dad, when I share stories with the men that I work with about you, they marvel that I had a dad like you and desire to be taught to be a dad like you. Dad, I am grateful for the father that God gave me and I miss you daily.
So dad, today I am a better prepared dad because of your presence and teaching. I am a grateful dad because you taught me gratitude. I am a dad in love with his children because you taught me to love. I am a dad who shares Jesus and God’s promises with my children because you taught me to love God with all my heart, all my soul and all my mind. I am a dad because God loves me so much that he blessed me with the highest honor; the assignment of the title dad/daddy/father.
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5 ESV