A Happy Father's Day

I received a Father’s Day card from my married son Joel and his wife Shae, with these words:

Words cannot express how thankful we are to love you as our father. You have supported us throughout our relationship and continue to be there for us.  Thank you for being the father you have been and continue to be.  We cannot wait for the future to unfold so that we can experience, with you, the presence of the Lord and the great joy He has in store for us all.

I am humbled by, and thankful for, all my family; all my children and their spouses, and surely for my wife Pat! Without her … I could never have experienced the blessing and joy of being a father. God has been extremely generous!

Interesting, I thought.  In a few brief sentences in the sentiment above from my son and daughter-in-law, the presence and benediction of, the Lord on life in the past, present, and future are brought into sharp view, acknowledged, and we are acutely aware of God’s continual goodness.  I need to do the same.

Today, on Father’s Day, I will have the pleasure of being with my father and mother in Fort Wayne, along with my brother and his family. Papa just turned 94 two days ago. Although his physical abilities have declined, his mental acuity and grasp of the Holy Scriptures have only sharpened. There is never a personal visit or phone call with my father (and mother) that is not interjected with admonishment and encouragement from the Bible, an incessant, bold pointing to our crucified and risen Lord Jesus. The faithfulness of God is remembered, His love, grace, and mercy that care for us celebrated, and a future—when there will be no more “good-byes”—anticipated.  The best is always yet to come.

On this day when I remember my grandfather Maier who passed the faith on to my father and Uncle Paul (and his family), and how my father has passed this heritage and focus on to my brother and me and our families, and how now I have passed that on to my sons and daughters, I look forward to our children doing the same with their children.  God is faithful!

Happy Fathers Day!