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| Walking to the greenhouse with daddy |
Father's Day is this weekend, and as I have been in and out of stores, I have been reminded of this in a vivid way. I think a lot more about my daddy during this week every year. I was blessed with a wonderful daddy. To most who knew him, he was a quiet, reserved man. But I remember a daddy who was passionate about his God, his family, his gardening, his woodworking, his fishing and hunting, and his books. He was a very intelligent and gifted man, and when he suddenly and unexpectedly left this life in October of 2003, the world - especially my world - lost a great man. I miss him, his laugh, his hugs, but mostly I miss his wisdom. I cannot count the times I have wished I could pick up the phone and call him since he left - I felt that way this past week, in fact.
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| Never too old to sit on Daddy's lap |
My daddy taught me a lot - some of it by example, and a lot of it by much needed discipline. He helped me to learn that the world did not revolve around me (which early on, I was sure that it did!), that he was deserving of my respect and honor, and that my obedience to him was not optional. He also taught me about nature - he was a wonderful gardener, and astronomer as well. He built a telescope from scratch, and I have wonderful memories of standing on a stool and looking through my father's creation at my Father's Creation. He would tell me about the different constellations and stars, and I was fascinated by all of that at an early age. As a boy, he taught himself how to play the harmonica, and I always loved listening to him play. One summer when I was young, we spent most evenings out in the backyard swing, where he taught me how to play it, too. He would take me fishing with him quite often as well, and I always loved being with my daddy - it didn't really matter where, or what we were doing. He made me feel safe, and secure, and loved.
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| With Daddy in the backyard swing |
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| January 2, 1988 |
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| The new daddy and his girls |
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| Father and son |
Because of my daddy's teaching and influence, I knew what kind of man to search for to spend my life with. In a lot of ways, my husband is like my father. Jeff is generally quiet in demeanor, is an engineer (as was my dad), and also has a passion for God, and for his family. On September 21, 1990, Jeff became a father - the father of my children, and those three who call him "Dad" will tell you he is the best of the best! Jeff was a "hands-on" daddy from the very beginning, and I doubt I would've lived through those early years without his help!
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| Play time! |
He has loved our kids from the start in a sacrificial, Godly way. He has taught them to love, honor, and obey him as their father, and has been involved in every aspect of their lives. I remember how he would come home from work when they were little to screams of delight - "Daddy's home!!" He would always take the time to wrestle and play, even after a long, hard day at work. He helped them build things, and participated with them in scouts, as well as other school activities. He was the "go to" guy for any homework help that involved math or science, and always handled those sessions with infinite patience. As the spiritual leader of our home, he taught them to love and obey God, and I will never forget the three separate late-night trips to the church building where he baptized each one of them into Christ.
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| Reading to Caleb |
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| First Father's Day - 1991 |
He is a daddy who loves his Princess, his Sweet Pea, and his Buddy Boy, and they still seek his advice and wisdom. They love to joke and tease him about different "private" jokes they have shared through the years, but their relationship with him is built on love, and trust, and affection - he still kisses all three of them goodnight when they are here - yes, even our 21 year old son.
The quote in the title of this post is so true. The earliest impression a child will have of our Heavenly Father will be in large part based on how they perceive their earthly father. I have been impressed in my Bible study with the amount of time devoted in Scripture to the portrayal of God as our Father. One of the most moving and profound is in the parable of the Prodigal Son (which I believe is better titled the Loving Father). How beautifully Jesus expresses in that parable the love and concern our God has for us - His children.
I was blessed to have Bob Meadows as my daddy, and would not trade that heritage for anything. I am thankful for all he taught me, and mostly for how he always pointed me toward God. I am also blessed with Jeff as the loving, Godly father of the three who call me "Mom." I could never have asked for a better daddy for my children than him. I'm especially thankful for the spiritual leadership he has provided in our home for all these years. May I never take these men for granted, and may I always be especially grateful for the way they each have pointed their children to know and love the Heavenly Father.
So enjoy your Father's Day as you honor your fathers and husbands, and maybe even your sons who are fathers. We desperately need such men so much in today's world! But don't forget to honor the most important Father on the Lord's Day - the one who has adopted us as His children (Eph. 1:3-5), and who loves us more than any earthly father is capable of.
"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!" ~1 John 3:1
