Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Some things I loved about my dad

A farmer had three boys that he worked very hard. From sunrise to sunset the farmer and his boys worked every day except Sundays. The farmer refused to purchase some of the new technology that other farmers embraced, worked the old fashioned way - from can 'til can't.

One day the farmer stopped by the local feed and seed store, and some of the men kidded him about the way he worked his boys to raise his crops.

The farmer replied, “I'm not raising crops. I'm raising boys.”

That's the job of the father, to help a boy become a man. Paul wrote, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). The dedicated father must do everything he can to point his children to know, love and follow the Lord.

I'm thankful I had a father who built a Christian home. When Father's Day rolls around, my thoughts naturally turn to reflections on my father. My dad died of colon cancer in October, 1993, and there's not been a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about him. Bear with me as I reflect on some things I loved about my dad.

I loved the way my dad loved my mother. My mom and dad met at Ridgecrest Baptist Conference Center near Black Mountain, N.C. It was Training Union week, and Daddy spotted Mom, saw on her name tag that she was from Georgia, walked up to her and said, “I see you're from Georgia, too.” Great opening line, but it must have worked because he started traveling to see her, they stayed in touch, and they had a good marriage of nearly 40 years. My dad always put his family first, and his love for mom was evident.

I loved the way my dad was always there for us boys. He showed interest in our interests. Little League baseball games, midget league football, band concerts, halftime shows, Beta Club inductions. His presence meant a lot.

I loved his love for the church. He was a dedicated churchman who loved the Lord, loved his church and loved church people. He served as a deacon, treasurer, Sunday School teacher, committee member. He was involved and supportive. He loved and supported his pastors through the years and was so proud when his oldest son was called to the ministry.

I loved the way he sang hymns. He loved congregational singing. He would close his eyes, appear to be meditating on the words, and sang with gusto. His favorite hymn was “I Know Whom I Have Believed,” and that truth was reassuring because he did have a wonderful walk with the Lord.

I loved his sense of humor. My dad was somewhat devilish at times and loved to pull pranks. While I was attending Georgia College and living at home, I borrowed the family car to go on a date to Six Flags. I got in late at night and didn't see my parents until the breakfast table the next morning.

On Sunday mornings we sat down together around the table, and my dad said the blessing. On this particular morning, he said something like: “Dear God, thank you for this food. Bless it to nourish our bodies. Thank you for being with me and Mark (my brother) yesterday when we wrecked David's car. Amen.”

I had this lime green Ford Maverick that I bought with my own grass-cutting money. I was so proud of that car. It would be an antique today. I had sweated through many hot summers earning $2 and $3 a yard to pay for a car. Someone hit my dad from behind and pushed him into another car, so my Maverick got it from both ends. Totaled! But I never will forget how he chose to tell me that he wrecked my car.

I loved that he was a man of his word. I loved that he helped my mom around the house and expected us to, also. When supper was finished, he washed the dishes and we boys took turns drying them. I loved that he taught me to love the Braves, Coke floats and boiled peanuts. I loved that he was a wonderful father and a good man.

I just wish he could have stuck around for a while longer.