A Father's Perspective

Growing up Father's Day had always been hard for me .I lost my dad when I was 5.I knew what I had missed but never knew how to make up for what I had missed.I did promise myself that if I ever had kids I would make up for what I didn't have.After I met Jolene I knew pretty quickly that she was the one -even though she did turn me down the first time I asked her out. After we were married about 15 months she told me Jessica would arrive in August ,at first I was in shock,not ready ,scared and yes worried that I wasn't up to the task. Jolene was so sick. I figured this would be our first and last child-who in their right mind would go through this again!Our friend Karen did a ultrasound about 5 months into the big event. The doc reading the ultrasound said "the most obvious male I had ever seen"-boy was he wrong .A beautiful red headed 9lbs plus arrived on 8/12/1978.I was in shock for the first 15 seconds because he was a she but then proceeded to fall madly in love with her as I would Josh and Justin.We took about a million pictures of her . A few thousand of Josh . And hardly any of Justin.All 3 would sleep in our room for years -guess we should of read more how to books back then.Who had time to play golf ,I had kids to play with.A patient asked me one time why I wasn't open on Saturdays.The kids had ballgames then and I didn't want to miss one.After getting home from work around 630 I longed to sit and read the newspaper uninterrupted for 20-30 minutes but football and baseball was more important than that.We make seeming little choices along life's way that can turn out to have a great impact upon our children. Being  a dad was pure joy-indescribable. So this year was the first one without any kids at home.All are grown and on their own now. Of course I made mistakes and have a few regrets but all in all it was a great ride! Since the kids are gone I guess I'll have to start acting my age except when the grand kids come over. Then its okay to eat chips in bed ,stay up late, and of course eat all the powdered donuts you want.So kids thanks for all the memories and most of all thank you God for letting me be part of their lives.

36

I think the first time I saw you you were in the 9th grade. You were always smiling and very friendly.Once we went on a double date-me with Karen ,you with Ray. 3 wonderful home grown kids,5 grand kids, and who knows how many foster kids-it has been a special time! Now it is mostly me and you like it was in the beginning.Well we do have Muggsey.It is nice .Riverbend was fun.I am more settled.More peace now.I appreciate you more.The fact that you are easy going-low maintenance. That you have been patient while I am" waiting" for a job.That you have stuck by me-well there are no words for that.Who knows why we travel the paths we do all I know is I am Glad I traveled them with you.

Romano

Since the age of 10 I had wanted to learn to play the guitar.My Mom spent $47 on one-a whole weeks pay for her- 40 something years ago. It had always bothered me that after a few weeks I hardly picked it up again.There are many things we plan on mastering yet for some reason we let a few linger and justify ourselves by saying "when I have more time".Due to a bad choice I made tragedy struck our family and all I had was time. I ordered a guitar and for the next 13 months it became my constant companion.After a few weeks my fingers were so sore I almost quit but they eventually became use to the strings and I kept at it.That guitar helped me to make it through a hard time and it meant a lot to me.
There was a guy named Romano that I let borrow it every Saturday when I went to the library to study.He was a guy who had been in and out of prison his whole life and had a very negative outlook about everything.Guess Jesus wasn't around perfect people either.As I prepared To leave I had given away everything but my guitar.I had went back and forth about giving it to Romano.He probably would trade it for cigarettes so I would just keep it.A few weeks earlier I had shared with Jessica about maybe giving it away. She knew what it meant to me but encouraged me to give it to him.The night before I was to leave the Lord really worked on me and at 7am I asked Romano to come over. As I handed him the guitar this hardened criminal ran into my arms and wept.He said that was the first thing anyone had given him in the last 25 years. As we got into the car to leave I told my daughter that maybe in a few days we could find a used guitar somewhere.When we arrived at her house I noticed a Martin guitar case on the table.I still cry when I think of that moment-seems she contacted some of my friends and told them the Romano story and Jess and Damien as well Rick, Mike and Lynette gave me a Martin  guitar. We sometimes try and hold on to things yet God has something far greater for us if we listen and follow Him.Romano and I write each other.He says he is praying for me and my family and that he saw God in me and that changed his life.As I play the guitar I thank Romano but mostly I thank God and I am reminded of a verse- Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.

Painting in Lexington

As I sit in Justin's office a flood of emotions covers me.His first house and a solid week of painting leave me exhausted yet at peace knowing that this will go down as a special week in our bank of memories. I am still amazed at God's timing.Neither he nor I will ever have another week where we can do handy man stuff together again yet God set aside this time for both of us.Much thanks for that Lord. I have never painted a whole house at one time-it seemed like endless miles of ceilings and walls. I will forget his red office and her chartreuse bathroom, the 12-14 hour days ,and the look on his face as he paid the Home Depot bill.What I won't forget is the time we shared as we worked together to prepare the place he would call home for the next 5 years.I feel the Lord saying to me spend time with me as I prepare where you will spend not only 5 years but eternity.We can teach our children many things but nothing can compare with teaching them to spend time with God .Of all of our experiences together I could sense this one was different for Justin. He saw me through different eyes.The refrigerator was 1" higher than the cabinet-no problem dad used his weird saw and an hour later it fit. Ceiling fans and light fixtures hung,no task was too much of a challenge for them. I only had my dad a few years I can only imagine how nice it would have been to have had more time with him. We do have a heavenly father who stands beside us as we walk through life.Lord walk beside Justin and Jana as they begin their life together .I load up my tools and prepare to leave knowing that time together will be harder to come by now.I am reminded of a poem that says don't just sing to me but teach me to sing for when I am alone I will need the melody. A fullness fills me as a silent voice whispers well done my son,well done.