Father's Day

Yesterday was Father's Day and it was a very good day indeed. After I worshipped, I went to pick up a few small things for dad. Cheryl was out of town (but due back later in the day) and Sarah was dropping her husband off at the airport for a business trip. So, I was the designated present-purchaser, which was ok by me. We have all taken our turn, at one time or another, filling in for each other... and I think it has made us closer, stronger, and more tolerant than we have ever been. Anyway, back to Father's Day.

I bought the two things, wrapped them and put them in the bag, tried to eat a quick bite and then drove over town to visit dad. He had the television on.... praise God. I know that this seems like a silly little thing, but it isn't. You see, dad and I had a talk the day before regarding his "moods." He, and I too, are pretty even-tempered and our moods stay the same. When there is a "disturbance in the force" or our mood slides into a funk, it is difficult to know how to handle it. Sometimes you cannot simply pull yourself up by your bootstraps. He has been really struggling with this. So, yesterday, we sat and talked about it for sometime.

During our talk, dad mentioned how proud he was of me. He said I was "strong," and "truthful," that people "trusted" me because I "spoke from the heart." He went on to say that I was "unpretentious, pratical, and honest." I felt like I was Jacob receiving Isaac's blessing. (Well, only without the trickery, lamb's wool on the arms, and stealing something that wasn't really mine-so, maybe not like it at all.... just a blessing from a dad.) It was a very special moment. He went on to say that he knew that he showed his love to all of us by his actions but that he realized sometimes the ones you love need to hear you say it. He looked at me, put his hand on my arm, and said "I. Love. You." His eyes teared up and then he smiled. I thought my heart would break. I smiled through my tears and told him I loved him too.

Wow.

During our discussion, I mentioned how sitting alone in a quiet room for long periods of time might not be very healthy for him. His eyesight is bothering him and he cannot read the paper. He has some time in the morning, before therapy, and then in the evening, after we have left, and it gets very quiet and lonely. I told him that was usually the time the evil one would start playing with my thoughts. He agreed. I went on to suggest that maybe listening to the t.v. would help keep that at bay. Listen to the news. Watch the weather report. See what is on PBS. He nodded and said that sounded like good advice.

When I walked into the room on Sunday, he was listening to PBS. He saw me and gave me a thumbs up! He smiled and said the t.v. helped. He watched a really good interview with a doctor and the subject was ..... are you ready? The subject was menopause. I asked if that was a problem for him and we both chuckled. He said he was filing the information away for later! He has always popped up with little factoids he has read from the newspaper, or heard on t.v. We were always amazed at the stuff that he could spout out. So, this was a good thing.

God bless my dear dad. He is a fighter and this stroke has been a terrible thing. But God has a way of taking the terrible things and turning them around. Blessings are found in everything. God gets the glory. Amen. This stroke has strengthened an already strong family and made it even stronger. It has given my dad an opportunity to say the things in his heart to the one's he loves. It has given us time to show our love to dad in practical ways. It has given us a great appreciation for the blessing of each extra day we have. Who knows how long we shall live? We need to use each day fully for it could be our last. My dad knows this and is doing something about it, as are we.