Father’s Day 2020

    Tomorrow is Father’s Day.  That means a lot of things to a lot of people, on both sides of the gender gap. It also inspires many wonderfully happy thoughts to some, but sadly, unhappy thoughts to others.

     I suppose you could say that when it came to fatherhood, somewhere in my deep sub-conscience I must have pre-planned to do it up with a flurish.  One does not always direct every step of one’s future.  In most instances we don’t know what’s behind the next door, right?

     As for fatherhood steps one through five, five did and didn’t actually happen, not to fruition anyway.  The first wife and I lost five, three miscarriages and two tubals.  Technically I suppose, I ‘can’ count those babes-never-born as they were ‘fathered’ by me.

     But she and I parted ways.  And I sincerely hope that her later happiness was as complete and full as mine proved to be.

     Carol and I married in 1970.  She brought three very young daughters into the marriage, and before you knew it, we produced a fourth, also a daughter.  Those four girls proved to be every bit as fertile as their mother, which made for very, very large future Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners around our table, with various and assorted TV trays, etc. 

    That all said, I was thinking about Father’s Day this year, and just where I fit into the holiday.  I do have a very checkered fatherhood history.  ( And I wouldn’t have it any other way! )  I like to say that ‘it’s been quite a ride,’ and it has been… a bit bumpy at times, but who of us have not had a gravel road or two in their past?  Those bumps are CHARACTER BUILDERS, and God Himself is most often the One who pushes us off the easy interstates of life.)

     Oops, I got a bit off track.  I was thinking about Father’s Day, and where I fit in.  It suddenly came to me that I’m actually ‘more’ than ‘just a father,’ as most fathers are!  In a way, I’m set apart… even a bit unusual, and that makes me special, huh?

     You see, I am a bonified ‘regular’ father.  I’m also a step father.  I’m a grandfather.  I’m a step-grandfather.  Oh, and I’m a step-great-grandfather.  And if you factor in the spirits of those five who began life only to have it snatched away… I’m a pre-birth father too. 

     Yes, I’ll answer to “Dad,” from several directions.  Now all that’s left is living up to that honorable position of ‘Fatherhood.”

     Happy Father’s Day my fellow fathers!    

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Advertisement

HELP, DAD…

I’ve heard it said that any man can father a child, but it takes a special man to be a Dad.  And, yes, I had such a Dad.  He was there to help me, instruct me, lead and protect me.  He taught me how to shave, how to (properly) use a hammer, how to tie a neck-tie, how to drive… and  countless other things.  He was THERE for me!  I miss him dearly.

My wife says I’m still a kid at heart, and I suppose I am.  I still build model airplanes, but that’s OK, I’m retired, I can do that now without guilt.  But, the kid in me still needs the help and assistance of a DAD, and I have that, in the ‘person’ of my Heavenly Father!

Much to the exasperation of my ever patient wife, I ‘lose’ my glasses several times a week.  She’s learned to have a ‘special place’ to put them when she happens upon them in places where they ought not be.  You see, I’m near-sighted.  I can see perfectly well working on my computer, reading, and cutting balsa wood.  I need them to watch TV, or see what making all the noise outside.

My earthly Dad is no long by my side, but my Heavenly Father (Dad) is right here now!  

Yes, I pause and ask ‘Dad’ if he’s seen my glasses?  Oh course He has!  My Heaven Father sees and knows everything!  Yes, I’m saying that I pray over such a trivial matter!

That’s what makes Him so awesome!  My reasoning is, He can be great enough to create the stars above (I refer you to the Hubble Space Telescope photo above) and yet small enough to help His individual children, even with a trivial matter, like telling me where my misplaced glasses are.  And He always does! 

Thanks Dad!