Honoring our Fathers

            Father’s Day is coming this Sunday.  It is also the weekend for the U.S. Open golf tournament to be played at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York. If you are not aware, Southampton is on Long Island.  I will probably spend a fair amount of time watching the golf these next four days.  If they do what they usually do, the rough will be ankle high or deeper, the greens will be slick, and the golfers will complain about how hard the course is. And hackers like me will grin as the greatest golfers in the world are humbled in the manner that I am every time I play.

            But back to Father’s Day.  For the last five years this has been a bittersweet day for me. I am grateful that my family will make a big deal over me.  I have the best daughter-in-law in the world, and along with my three granddaughters they will do things right for my son and for me.

            But I will probably get to myself for a few moments at some time in the day just to remember my dad who is no longer with us.  Even as I write these words a couple of weeks in advance, I have to stop and wipe my eyes.  Every time I think of Dad I am filled with joy and sorrow. The sorrow is simple. I can’t talk to him anymore. I can’t call and ask for advice.  I can’t talk to him about the Braves or about Georgia Tech football and baseball. And I miss him sorely.

            Still, there is great joy. My dad was a man of God. A blue-collar worker with a high school education, he was determined that his oldest son would go to college and make something of himself.  I think there was a mixture of pride and concern when I announced that God had called me to be a pastor.  He said to me on that day, “I would never have chosen this route for you, but I will support you in every way I can.” And he was faithful to his word. 

            I am grateful that God created the family for us.  I pray for the dads and granddads reading these words.  May God bless you and use you to be a blessing to your loved ones. And may you be faithful to love them with the love that only God can give. Happy Father’s Day!