Remembering A Father

Old Spice cologne did not make it into my shopping cart this week. There were no trips to Hallmark in search of the perfect card. A Sunday afternoon drive to Mt. Dora did not occur. Another Father’s Day is here but a father is absent. Will it really be 17 years this September? A dull ache remains. So do the memories.

I remember a trip to the beach, even though the beach was not his favorite place, nor was it convenient to go. He taught me the importance of keeping promises.

I recall countless afternoons spent riding around in his pick up truck. He modeled the value of “being” and not always “doing.”

He helped me create homemade candles to give away as presents, showing me the significance of using my talents to serve others.

He participated in “Take Your Daughter to Work Day” long before it became popular. Talking with customers and taking trips to the lumber yard and hardware store; he taught me the importance of hard work, relationships and discipline.

All of my memories are not fond ones though. He wasn’t a perfect father. Like each of us, he missed the mark more than once. But, I believe he did the best he could.

I wonder. What memories do you have of your father? Whether good or bad, he taught you. Maybe the lessons were ones you don’t care to impart to future generations. Maybe you don’t appreciate, as singer- songwriter Marc Cohn says, the things (he) handed down. Or, perhaps his life is one you wish to pass on to your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or students.

How did you spend Father’s Day? Was it a celebration of a man you love or a painful reminder of what you lost or maybe never had? Whatever the case, I know of another Father who will never leave you or let you down. His Patience, His Parenting, His Love is perfect. Earthly fathers may fail us. He will not.

See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
1 John 3:1 (NLT)