My father passed away fifteen years ago today–Valentine’s Day, 1998. I can vividly see in my mind the time he slipped into the conscious presence of the Lord..
Some people might think this makes Valentine’s Day a sad occasion but that is not the case for me. To me, it seems to be an impetus to remember my father. By the way, I only addressed him as “Daddy.” I did this until the day he died.
I still miss my father. Even now fifteen years later, I have the urge to pick up the phone and give him a call.
There are two particular things I would like to tell him.
The first is about our grandchildren. I assure you he would have loved his great-grandchildren. I know that because he loved his two sons and his four granddaughters. He would have loved my three grandsons and my granddaughter in the same way. I wish he could have seen them and got to know them. He would have loved each of them and would have marveled at each one’s unique personality.
The second is about First Baptist Church Covington. I would love to tell him about this wonderful church where I serve as pastor. Of course, he knew FBC Covington and he loved it. I would simply love to tell him what has happened the last fifteen years.
I know this may sound strange but one of the best things my father ever did was show me how to treat a wife. Though he could be gruff in many ways, he displayed a beautiful tenderness toward my mother. The older I get the more I realize how much that I picked up that has helped me..
I say “picked up” because my father was much too emotional to do much talking about anything as special as love and marriage. Whenever he told me he loved me, he would cry and become unable to speak.
When Anna, our firstborn, called Papa to tell him she was engaged to be married, he could not speak, only cry. Anna feared he didn’t approve. That wasn’t the case at all. He simply couldn’t express emotions without becoming emotional.
Today, I remember my father. He wasn’t perfect, but I loved him and he loved me.
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7 Responses
Reading about your dad brought tears to my eyes. I still miss both my mom and dad, who were very special people who loved the Lord and taught their six children to love him, by example. Thank you for sharing this. I remember very well when your dad died and I too remembered it was Valentine’s Day. You are blessed to have your precious mother still alive and well.
This morning as I thought about Valentine’s day, I remembered that your daddy had gone to be with the Lord on this day. You have many wonderful memories of your dad as I do of mine. Our earthly fathers make such a difference in the way we view the world and our Heavenly Father.
What a beautiful sentiment! Thanks for sharing your special memory.
Becoming emotional with age is something I have observed in my Daddy, my father-in-law and now, in myself. Perhaps it has something to do with thankfulness, wonderment, and awe of what God has done to allow us to be so Blessed. Perhaps at times it is the potential of harm or the struggle we see coming for those we Love. The flood that comes can be overwhelming. The realization that we have limits but God doesn’t is indeed humbling to the point of being choked up and teary.
Thank you for reminding me we stand in so many ways on the foundations each Daddy and each Mommy has laid for us in the Mercy of our Lord.
My Theology reminds me that my Daddy knows even my sweet Emma Joy, born just this past August. For he is One with the Father and knows as there is no more “glass darkly” to hinder him. I don’t understand it, but I Know It.
Happy Valentine’s Day Beloved in the Mind and Heart, the Drink and the Sustenance of Our Lord.
Blessings.
Thank you for sharing your heart. I REMEMBER
those conversations oh so well! The only way for
me to honor those emotions is to carry them into
my legacy and finish strong
Thank you for sharing this Waylon. It touched my heart today
The desire to share all that is today with dads is well understood. Your stories of family say that you have been given a huge treasure chest-the biggest surely being taught that God loves you. May God continue to bless and keep you and your family. You are loved.