Fathers Day
As you read this I’m somewhere in the mountains of Southern Oregon enjoying a break from the stresses of the valley below.
My son worked odd jobs for over a month so he could buy us a night in a little cabin…because he knows it’s my favorite place in the world to be.
He has honored me beyond measure with this act of sacrificial love.
I am not his “real” father if we speak of blood, nor did I have a “real” father by the same measure myself.
What I have had all my life is the compulsion to be the father I never had, and in my son, God has given me the opportunity to be just that.
In loving this child I have learned what the love of a father is and how it thinks and how it acts…and I have learned the love of my Father in heaven in the process.
I’ve learned that the pain I have borne over the lack of an earthly father was my heavenly Fathers preparation for greater service and even greater blessing.
I have learned that the Father loves me far beyond the love I have for even my boy.
I have found a measure of healing.
Many of you are celebrating the lives of your fathers today…honor them well and love them much.
Many of you are are feeling the loss of a parent who loved you well but has gone on…in your sadness give thanks for what they were and the love they left you…and pass it on.
Many of you are mourning in a vacuum created by a man who wasn’t there, or you wish hadn’t been…may God bind your wounds and may you love others with the love you wish had been given you.
May you find healing.
God bless all of you who are loving your children with the love of a father…and may those children you father grow to honor you as mine honors me.
God bless you all.
“What I have had all my life is the compulsion to be the father I never had.”
Preach it.
“He has honored me beyond measure with this act of sacrificial love.”
You have a good boy there, Michael and he has a good father!
The love of the Father revealed through the son. Beautiful.
I spent Father’s Day yesterday with ALL my kids and ALL my grandkids. We had a great time and did it on the cheap – at my niece’s graduation party – so my brother paid for all of the festivities. 🙂
What a great kid!
Happy Fathers Day to you Michael!
With love,
Nancy/Nene
“… with ALL my kids and ALL my grandkids.” Awesome.
I am not his “real” father if we speak of blood, nor did I have a “real” father by the same measure myself.
Michael, any street cur can sire a litter of many puppies and absently brag about his “quiverfull”. Real men will raise them whether they are his own or not. You are one of the real men.
and a Happy Father’s Day to YOU—O Most High God of the Universe—from your blessed heavenly children on earth!
go Phil Mickelson!
Happy Father’s Day, Michael and to all you Dad’s out there, too…
Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Nice word for fathers:
“When your children look at you they either see My love, grace, mercy, faithfulness and patience or they see your judgment, condemnation, perfectionism, apathy, and anger as a reflection of My character.”
Direct hit 🙂
Beautiful…Happy Father’s Day Michael, you have a wonderful son.
I love ya, man!
Like^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks for sharing Michael. A cabin sounds so awesome.
Trey is quite the man.
Michael, good job on being a father.
It’s about so much more than DNA.
I hope all of the fathers here had a great weekend. Mine was pretty good, played a little Gaelic football at the Irish fair yesterday, saw a movie and had a nice dinner out today.
And my Pirates beat the Dodgers today.
Love this!
Wow! What a great meaningful gift! Putting 2 and 2 together I realize your son felled that ginormous tree with one whack.
I am in a category you didn’t mention. I disenfranchise (Is that the right word?) myself- I remove myself from Father’s Day at church for 2 reasons. First, all my shortcomings pour forth from my oversensitive conscience and, second the last thing I need is yet another well-intentioned ill-placed sermon on how to be a better father. I hate that! All the fathers who need that sermon will not be within shouting range. Why do preachers do that? Oh, I know why- it’s cuz fathers never get preached at the rest of the year. >>>duh<<<
By the way, I spent Father's Day driving up the coast with my wife. We camped in the Northern California coastal forest. Got rained out the last few days. Bummer.
Gary,
I hear your heart…and I bet you are a very fine dad.
Blessings on you and yours.