Sunday,
June 21, 2026
A
Fathers’ Day Classic
MEMORIES OF MY FATHER!
Eph 6:1-4
6:1 Children, obey your
parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother;
(which is the first commandment with promise;)
3 That it may be well with
thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not
your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the
Lord.
June is not only the month in
which we find Father’s Day, it is the month in which my own father was both born and
died. Dad was born on June 26, 1917, and died on June 21, 2001, just five days
short of his 84th birthday. I miss him.
It is a terrible thing to be “fatherless” even when you are fully grown
with children and grandchildren of your own. There is a place deep inside where
the memory of Dad still dwells. I can go there and review a photo album of
memories. I can see how he dressed, how he walked and talked and even how he
responded to troubling situations. I can see how he responded to the needs of
those less fortunate while at the same time being disgusted at those who simply
would not do for themselves. I can choose from the best of his character,
sorting out the best of his nature and comparing it with my own. Every now and then
I can see huge parts of him in the mirror. Sometimes I turn and stare, half
expecting him to speak to me.
Since the commandment is to
honor my father, I
wonder how I might do that today. I can’t take him to dinner or go fishing with
him. He never was one for receiving gifts. I think the best way to honor my
father is to assemble a list of his best qualities and emulate them. Next, I
think I should assemble a list of his worst qualities and forgive them and
reject them.
Dear Lord, since my father is
closer to you than me today, would you please give him a hug for me? Thanks!
