Yesterday
was Father’s Day, for our family it wasn’t a typical Father’s Day. Yes, it started out with me sharing a message
on what it is to be a Biblical Father in chapel at the hospital. Then heading
to church to hear a message by our guess speaker.
However,
that was the end of similarity to previous Father’s Day. Understand that this
is not a complaint, in fact it is the opposite, it is a tribute to my amazing
wife, and my son, daughter-in-law, and my daughter. Because they didn’t make it
about me, they made it about family!
See one year ago yesterday (June
16, 2018) an amazing lady passed away, my mother-in-law took her final breather
here on earth. Our relationship was
unique we didn’t always see eye to eye, and we both had our moments of being
stubborn. However, there was one thing we both agreed on is we loved the same
people. So, at 3:00 p.m. on Father’s Day we stood at the Graveside of this
amazing lady with all her children, daughter and son in-law’s, grandchildren
(all but one, who lives out of the area), and great-grandson.
For me is
was bitter sweet, because as we stood at Mom’s (yes that is what I called her)
graveside my mind went back 10 years ago in 2009 when in May of that year my
mother passed away, and 45 days later my father passed away (Ironically, we
would bury my father on his birthday June 17, 2009) so for me as I prayed with
the family, I heard my own voice crack, and the tears start to run down my
cheeks as I reflected on the greatest lesson these three people taught me (my
mother and father, as well as my mother-in-law.
Here it is …. Love your family despite what they do, because it is the only one you
have.
I
realized a long time ago; Father’s Day is not about all that the kids can do
for me. It is about my Family and how I’m able to encourage them to stay close
to one another and God. Three things I pray every day for my family.
1)
That they know Christ as Savior, and I will see
them in Heaven!
2)
That God has and continues to wrap a hedge of
protection around them and keeps them safe.
3)
That God blesses them spiritually, physically,
and financially.
