Tomorrow is celebrated around the country as "Father's Day". Around the country families will be firing up the grill, baking cakes, wrapping tacky ties and giving Father his due.
Fathers are supposed to be "heads of the households". Even in biblical times it was so. We even know God as "God the Father"...
I have to say I have been blessed with many "fathers" in my life so far. My heavenly Father, of course. My earthly father, Charles Boyd Neal, was a great "human" man. As all humans do, he had many faults, but to me, the goodness in his nature always shone through. From this man I received my love of books, reading in general, good science fiction, big breakfasts, nature/camping, love of animals and a good sense of humor. My father was a Baptist minister and he was an awesome minister. His was the first voice that I ever heard speak with outrage over the horror of abortion. My dad was "pro-life" before being such was accepted. He was passionate about the gift of life-this man who wanted a son but was graced with 4 daughters instead and loved each and every one of us. Thoughts of my dad evoke memories of black cherry pipe tobacco, camping trips, old maps, great stories and the love of life. He was not a small man...standing 6'4" and was the smallest of 3 sons. Into my adulthood life I can't remember ever being able to fully wrap my arms around this towering man-this gentle giant.
My father died suddenly when I was pregnant with my 3rd child. He never lived to see the awesome young men his 6 grandsons are becoming. In this generation, the boys out number the girls! Being the oldest child when a parent passes on is a huge burden sometimes. I miss this man dearly! I know he is looking down on us from heaven but there will always be a part of me that so desparately wants to try and wrap my arms around him! My beautiful children will never know this great man and for that my heart truly mourns. Losing a parent is not something that most people understand. But once you do, you never ever forget. I love my daddy so very much!
After my father passed away, my father-in-law stepped up to the plate. He was always a great male role model and I am SO blessed to have a husband who wants nothing more than to be just like HIS daddy! Mr. Jimenez has always been there to support our family in any way, yet he never sticks his nose into things...he lets us experience life with all it's ups and downs. My sons will always have a great role model in this awesome, spiritual, loving man!
My mother remarried a man named Wes Thompson. We always kidded her because Wes is several years younger than my mom. Fortunately, God knew what he was doing when he brought those two together. We told Wes to run....getting mixed up in this crazy family has its risks, you know, but he stayed firm. We dutifully informed him....."no backsies"! He has been a rock for my mom and he has been a great "poppi" for my children. He is really the only grandfather they will ever know on my side of the family. He does the things my dad would have done, takes the kids fishing, hunting, building tree swings, camping, and cooking with them. He and my mom have been there for every major and minor event in our lives! I am truly blessed to call this man my step dad!
We were at a funeral this past week and I got to visit my own grandfather's grave. Recently I have been able to get reacquainted with my cousins and family on my fathers side. I realized that with both of my parents being around the youngest in their respective families, I never really got to know my grandfathers on either side. Oh, I have faint memories of them but very very few. Having pictures helps so much. My sisters on the other hand, probably have no memory of their grandfathers at all. That is difficult to imagine for me.
We live in a time now where fathers seem to be "optional". I have noticed quite a bit lately that families with 2 parents-a mother AND a father, seem almost to be a dying breed. When my husband and I attended some parent meetings at the local public schools for one of our sons, the staff and teachers were completely dumbfounded and astonished that our son had 2 parents-a mother and father that actually were married and lived together in the same house AND that both of those parents would be interested enough in their son's well-being and education to show up for a parent teacher meeting. This was in a school of over 5000 students! Imagine, so many kids in the world today with no good fatherly influence in their lives! And why do people wonder why society as a whole has ended up in the landfill of life!
On this Father's Day, I want to acknowledge all the Fathers who have seen me through life! I am truly blessed beyond measure!
