Fathers Day

My father’s one hundredth birthday was this last March.  This photo of him feeding a deer was taken about 1938 in California’s Sequoia National Park along with his friend Jim Warren. I miss my Dad. He’s been with our heavenly Father for thirteen years, and still the thoughts cross my mind now and then to ask him questions, then realize that opportunity has passed.
This 1909 photo includes my Dad’s father – in the upper right – and his grandfather – in the lower left. My great-grandfather, Sion Holley, was born in 1830 and served in the Texas infantry during the Civil War. Think for a moment how much American history has occurred in this our four generations. I grew up hearing the stories that these three men lived through.

This was my husband’s birth father – one who left for World War II when my husband was only two, and never returned to his family. Oh, he was not killed in action, but the war separated the family and he built a new life elsewhere. My husband and his brother were adopted, given another Dad.

This is the man who got to tell the family stories, see the report cards, apply discipline and set the stage for my husband’s future. The man he called Dad. He's the Dad who set the work ethic by example, who provided food, shelter and a father's love.

All of the above are fathers. Some were more involved in their children’s lives, but all provided input into the makeup of my own children, who have their own father – as I met him:

… and as I see him now:

Wonderfully blessed fathers in our lives! But – we have more.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.(Romans 8:15 KJV)

Through the matchless grace of God, we are His children:

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1 KJV)

Jesus Christ confirmed this in the prayer He gave as our example:

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:6-13 KJV)

Let us honor all the fathers in our lives, not just on this one day, but every day.