06.22.09
Father’s Day Reflections
It’s noon on Monday, the day after Father’s Day. Honestly,
since this particular holiday was on a Sunday, which means
that usually I’m away, I didn’t think of it much beforehand.
Shannon had already asked us to come for a cookout at
their house this week, so that we can all celebrate the
day a little late. We’re very used to that.
But, it began on Friday, and continued Saturday and
yesterday…Facebook friends posted messages to and
about their dads, their husbands, fathers-in-law and
the like. Many were very touching to read. “Honor thy
father…” is still often alive and well. And so, before
we left for the weekend, I posted my tributes to both
my Dad and Dawna’s father. Both are in a very much
better place. Rusty Goodman’s daughter, Tanya Good-
man Sykes, posted a link on her Facebook site, to
something that she suggested we read. I’m thankful
that she brought it to our attention, and grateful to
have read what I did. The blogger is a young lady
whose husband was killed in a car accident a year
ago last month. He was only 25. He was driving,
texting, and didn’t have his seat belt on. He left
behind his wife and two young children. Yesterday,
after a year of planning, she and her children picked
up a bucket of KFC chicken, and ate their Father’s
Day Sunday meal sitting around a tombstone. I don’t
need to tell you, but it was a hard read….I have no
idea if she or her husband are or were believers, but
there were lessons in what she shared. Hard ones,
but very real.
I’ve been thinking so much about my dad as this
Father’s Day approached. Four years and 84 days have
passed since my dad met his Savior, and not one of them
has come and gone without my thinking of him at least a
few times. We were so blessed to have him as our father.
I thank God much for him, and now for his memory. Dad
was a hard-working man; at one point he owned two
active businesses and was the President of another. He
rarely bought himself much, though; he provided for us.
And, took enormous delight and pleasure in what he could
give to us. Dad was scrupulously honest…a man of
uncompromising integrity. He was mostly quiet, but
strong. He rarely blew his stack. He’d get quieter
when things were going against him, or when some
adversary was putting him through a rough test. His
desires in life were few, but at the top of his list, he
wanted my brother Lin and me to know his Lord, and
then, once we did, he wanted our lives to count for
God. He loved us, disciplined us, comforted us, provided
for us. Dad nurtured us, taught us, and above all, he
SHOWED us. And maybe, that’s what I’ll always
remember the most. He didn’t say much, because
frankly, he didn’t need to. He lived what he believed,
and if a picture tells 1000 words, his life spoke library
volumes. Some would say that the family that I was
born into was fate, the “accident” of genetics, and a
variety of other things. But, I know differently. It was
a gift from God. I’m so blessed. The second-greatest
compliment long-time friends can ever pay me is to
say that I’m a lot like my father. The highest com-
pliment follows suit, though…for if anyone ever tells
me that, I’ll know that to whatever degree it may be
true, it’s really because my Dad was so much like his
Father.
Dad, I cannot put into words how much I miss you,
loved you, and cannot wait to see you again. For all
that you did, for all that you taught us, and above all,
for how you showed us the right way, thank you.
Happy Father’s Day, dad. I can’t send a card or call
you again this year, but I’ve never felt more like saying
it than now.
To all the dads reading this, Happy Father’s Day to you
too. How wonderful it would be if my kids, and yours,
could one day look back at the examples we were, and
feel as I do in writing this. It’s not a bad thing to work
towards, is it?
Blessings,
Alan