Let me tell you all a story that really happened to me

A story of how the Lord of All touched my family,

God chose the path, that my father daily walked

Often friends would "catch him, as he and God would talk,

He was different than most men 'cause he really didn't care

What God above asked of him, He could send him anywhere,

And the way he told the story, God took him to a field

And told him to look all around at the richness of its yield,

And He told him that all the land, as far as his eye could see

He was giving just to him and to his family,

And though my dad was great, he was a simple man

'Cause he just believed God knew how, and that He had a plan,

My father and mother were very old, having lived so many years

It seems the dreams of having a child were washed away in tears,

Yet my dad wouldn't give up hope, for he knew what God had said

As long as he was living, the promise was not dead.

I don't think he was at all surprised when angels did appear

But my mom hid and laughed at what they said,

                                           when she thought they couldn't hear,

But you know God got the last laugh (nine months down the road)

So my parents called me "laughter" and positively glowed,

I was treated gently, God's great promise was fulfilled

My father taught me to believe and to listen to God's will,

Now comes the part of the story that some may think is odd

That my father never questioned the holy will of God,

I looked for my dad that day, he was speaking quietly outside

So I crouched behind a wagon, kneeling there to hide,

I knew he heard the voice of God deep inside his ear

And I tried real hard to listen, and still I couldn't hear,

All I heard him say is,"Here I am." then watched his face turn white

Then he crumpled himself to the ground but never tried to fight,

"As thou will." I heard him say and "Holy is your name."

I knew it was not time to go to him, but I wished to all the same,

Now since I was a baby, mom told stories to me at night

And felt my head, looked at me, making sure I was alright,

And dad would watch her do it, smiling while she talked

But this night he didn't come, instead went to take a walk,

And though my mother's voice could soothe worries from my head

I kept thinking about my dad, wondering what God had said,

What would make my dad drop and cry, and make his face turn white?

I made up my mind to obey him, to do all he said was right,

Early in the morning my dad shook me wide awake

He told me to be quiet, no noise was I to make,

I helped him saddle up the donkey, a strange look was on his face

A mixture of sadness and conviction, as we rode off for the place

That God had revealed to him, and silently we rode

As the sunrise broke upon us in a pink and purple glow,

I knew there was a reason that my mom was left behind

And I was a just a little nervous with all this on my mind,

I asked, "Father, where is the lamb, that you plan to sacrifice?

"God will have a lamb for us," he said, I didn't ask him twice,

A peace then came upon me, that God's will would be done

I silently stood there and never thought to run,

I willingly lay down on that wood for the sacrifice

And I saw the love in daddy's eyes as he raised the knife to slice,

I didn't know til heaven, why God asked this test of us

And that it wasn't just a matter, of how much we did trust,

But it pictured for all generations, how Messiah would come and die

For there was a ram caught in the thicket, and I know the reason why,

So people could hear our story, and listen, and choose life

And that's why my daddy took me and why he raised the knife,

My daddy is my hero, because of him I know my God

Because of him millions of folks with heaven's shoes are shod....

I love my dad.