Fathers Day - Scenes of our Father's

Fathers, many of us no longer have our fathers here with us on earth, or sometimes never have, but no matter what, we have a Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally. Our Father in heaven provides all we need and is the help of our earthly dads. Thank you, Yahweh, for loving and leading our dads.

SCENE I ~ She woke up bright and early, eager to hurry to the phone to make the call. That, “Hey dad, happy father’s day call.” Her heart is warm and fuzzy to share her latest news and maybe getting him to laugh with the newest silly joke she can muster. Her feet hit the floor as she heads to the phone, picks it up to begin the dialing, and then it happens. She remembers, “He is gone.” It has been three years, and yet it feels like yesterday. She suddenly gets somber for a minute. Tiny tears attempt to well up in her eyes. She takes a long, slow deep breath and thinks, “She doesn’t need a phone. She can talk to him from her heart straight to heaven's door.”

A thankful thought in the tough times is that we have a Father who will always lift us. He is there to turn to all the time. We can turn to Him in our daily walks. He wants us to place our faith and hope in Him. When we allow ourselves to be poured into by God, always trying to live for Him, all things are possible.

(Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”)

SCENE II ~She woke today to the baby calling from her crib. She wearily reaches for her slippers to give her footing, to hold her as she hoists the little one to her hip. As soon as she attends to the little one, providing a fresh diaper and sippy cup of juice, she will make her way to the office area of her small apartment.

Here she finds a comfy spot to sit at her computer. She anxiously opens it up because she knows their Skype session is about to ensue. The timing is meticulous as he is far from her, deployed in the desert country of Afghanistan. She has awaited this early morning call all week. It is Father's Day, and she is so excited to see the man she loves as he shares his few minutes of joy with her and their baby.

It is the best present he can imagine as he lives out his days in a chaotic war world far away from his loved ones. The web camera turns green, and there He is, and mom smiles.

Today is a day to honor a father who may have grown up on the streets in turmoil but broke the mold of his existence and better him for future generations.

SCENE III~ He is just five years old, but he knows what day it is. He knows it is “Fathers Day.” He is keenly aware at a young age that today is the day his grandma and he would take the annual trip to see his daddy.

His Gram has prepared everything as she has for the past three years of his life. His clothes are neatly on the bed, and he has specific instructions to head to the bathroom and brush his teeth immediately following breakfast. After one last look around the old rickety house, shaken by wear and inner-city happenings, they will head out. It’s still dark outside as they make their way to the corner. They will catch the Metro Bus and then go to the bus terminal.

Here they will board another bus with a little more comfort. Gram has packed some snacks and toys for their long journey. The little boy is excited, as he will take three buses to see his father and three more to get back home. Their time together will be short, as it takes so long to get to the prison.

Gram is weak from a heart condition and can only make the tedious trip once a year. What better day to allow a child to hug his father? It is Father's Day. Even with his mistakes, this daddy wants better for his son. In his cell, he sits and prays that Gram will make it long enough to see the little guy through. He prays that his little one will listen and stay on a straight path, and in time, they witness the answer to these prayers.

This same young man will grow; after twenty-five long and dedicated years have passed, he will share this story with his son. They will also take a bus ride; only this bus will head to New York City from the suburbs where he has lived for the past five years with his lovely wife.

His son is also five years old as they head for the Christmas Show at Radio City Music Hall. This young boy is the excited child the young couple chose for adoption. They picked him as their first tiny human to guide and mentor. The young man and now father himself wanted to give a child like himself a chance, a child that did not have a Gram like his. Because of his gram, he became a father who made good choices and did not let a history of negativity repeat in another life. He was the change because somebody loved him, and his story was different because of the faith of a mustard seed.

The faith that a worn and tired gram placed in her father in heaven and her tomorrow, she displayed and then shared with her grandson.

Today was a day to honor the dads that no matter what storms come against them or how many waves knock them down, they get back up and keep fighting to be models for their children.

SCENE IV~ He sets his work clothes out the night before. He always wants to present his best for the job he feels so blessed to have. Life has happened to him so many times as he has struggled with life’s trials and comes through courage for his family.

He has battled through the storms of illness that have hit many he loves, including himself. He learns to be a provider in an economy that no longer appreciates hard work and loyal dedication. He is very grateful for what he has. Still, He is also painfully aware that although a professional that gives one hundred percent, because of the economic downturn, he will always feel the stress of making ends meet.

No matter how he sees himself, his children and wife adore him. They are so happy to make a special meal they have thought out days ahead to honor his effort, love, and continued commitment to them. They appreciate he is hungry for the word of God and makes it a priority to keep his family grounded in their walk. He admits his imperfections and asks for support when he needs it. His family is proud of him, for he is a dad that goes over every hurdle.

If he knocks something down, he goes back and jumps over one more time. He does his utmost to stay ahead of the proverbial snake. When it gets close, he turns on his steadfast heels, spits at the slithering poison, and says, “GET OFF MY BACK AND THAT OF MY FAMILY!”

Our Father who art in heaven hallowed is Thy name.

We are thankful for our dads in the daily grind.

In conclusion, we have an all-knowing Father in the valleys and the peaks. We honor, praise, and worship you today and always. We are so grateful for your unconditional love and so very thankful for our earthly fathers.

Whether present in our daily lives or awaiting our reunion with them in heaven, we honor the fathers who tried their best to make things better for their children.

Ultimately, we are in awe of a Father who would unconditionally give us His love and protection as He wraps us in His arms. We are obedient and eager to learn lessons from all of our fathers.