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Father’s Day…

By June 21, 2021December 7th, 2022Devotional

Technically, I guess Father’s Day 2021 was over, at least in the eastern time zone, a few minutes ago. Early Sunday morning, Janet wished me a “Happy Father’s Day” – I had actually forgotten about it until she mentioned it to me. As part of our celebration this year, we had an early Father’s Day gathering at Kristin’s house on Friday evening and, as has become our custom, we went around the table and each person told a story or two about their father.

Of course, I enjoyed the accolades from our own children and when it became my turn, I recounted several stories about my father that our kids haven’t heard before. Now, it may not sound like it, but that is tough to do. That’s because I make sure that I constantly give the family an oral history of my life and the lives of those who have gone before.

I know that I have repeated myself on occasion but they grin and bear it. Our second grandson, Carter, is particularly interested in stories from the past and it doesn’t take much persuasion for me to wax nostalgic about days long gone. I would venture to say that our kids and grandkids know more about Janet’s and my parents that most kids know about their ancestors. It just is expected that when we have a family dinner, I regale them with new material to file away about the family. I also have written posts for the past 10 years and now there is quite an archive on this site of the trials, tribulations, successes and yearnings of members of our family.

More times than not, as I get started telling a story, I will remember more details as I get into my recollections of what happened. Whether it is about trimming the iris bed or painting the front railing with Dad during the Indy 500’s of my youth, or coming downstairs in order of age on Christmas morning each year, I am always transported back in time to memories of my earliest years.

I like to think that our kids and grandchildren enjoy these recollections. I guess, to some degree, I remember some difficult times as well, but they tend to fade into the background in favor of more pleasant memories. We also have created our own memories with the future generations. To this day, for example, every Christmas morning everyone shows up in their pajamas to open presents and have breakfast together at our home.

The youngest person in the family is usually assigned the task of handing out the stockings and presents, while everyone waits to see how I address the cards on my gifts to Janet. There is always some suspense there as I tend to offer hints of what may be in each box…

I have come to love the comments from our family members on Father’s Day. Nowadays, they seem to be more public as they are posted on social media. In my day, there was no such thing and it was a phone call or personal visit to fathers and grandfathers on this special day. So much has changed in the past decades…

One thing is for sure. Fathers have the responsibility to speak into the family, help to educate the younger generations about the important things in life and provide a good moral and ethical compass as a model of behavior for others. Too many times, values get thrown aside in favor of what somebody may want to do even if it isn’t up to the family standard. At some point, it is important to have faith that your children and grandchildren will remember their upbringing and not compromise themselves for some momentary gratification – but we can’t control our kids forever.

It is gratifying to know that our kids think that Janet and I get smarter as they get older. I hope that we can have the same kind of impact on our grandchildren. There is always something new to teach and I take this responsibility very seriously – some may suggest that I am too serious about this stuff… so be it… it’s not going to change…

I’m 68 years old and still wish that I could sit down with my own father and learn more from him. It’s been 43 years since he passed away and I am already 13 years older than Dad when he died. He filled me with a lifetime full of memories and examples to follow – but I would still love to sit down with him and just talk – about anything that he cared to share. I am a better father because I had a great father. Not perfect, for sure, but a yardstick to measure my own performance based on what he would think of me today – the father that I have become.

Tonight’s verse is from the first epistle of the apostle John. His first letter was about truth and light and the good news of Jesus. John tells us, in 1 John 2:14, “I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”

My encouragement tonight is that as fathers, we are supposed to know what to do and how to lead our families. This is impossible without knowing God on a personal basis. The job is too big to do without divine assistance. My prayer is that we, regardless of age, will continue to seek God’s guidance as we impact those who are growing in their faith but may have not yet reached spiritual maturity. Our jobs will never end. Happy Father’s Day and have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…

One Comment

  • David George Toussaint says:

    Scott, what you have written, see below, is very very true. Thanks for sharing.
    Dave

    My encouragement tonight is that as fathers, we are supposed to know what to do and how to lead our families. This is impossible without knowing God on a personal basis. The job is too big to do without divine assistance. My prayer is that we, regardless of age, will continue to seek God’s guidance as we impact those who are growing in their faith but may have not yet reached spiritual maturity. Our jobs will never end. Happy Father’s Day and have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…

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