Traveling the Rock Road

The little statuette you’re seeing here was gifted to me by my lovely and wonderful wife a number of years back.  Most would conclude she gave it as a tribute to my relationship to our sons when they were small.  I suppose that would be as good a guess as any, but that wasn’t the reason.  The motivation for her presenting me with this precious gift was because of the way I was raised; in other words fatherless.  Oh sure, there was my great-uncle who I wrote about some time back, but he was far from the true meaning of a father figure.  There was even a step-father for a brief moment in my life, but here was a man who was drug addict (yep, even in the 50s they were out there) that was even farther from being a role model than my uncle.  Then there’s the man whose name I’ve carried all these years, but what do you say about someone you never knew.  So really, there was no male figure I had to look up to; that is, until I learned of the love of a real father, a Heavenly Father.  Someone who is always there for me, who never leaves me and who loves me so much He sent His Son to ensure I would be with Him forever.  I can’t see Him in the physical sense, but I know He’s there for me.  I don’t hear His voice the way we hear each other, but I know He hears me and cares for every word I utter.  There are times I do things that I know makes Him sad, but I also know no matter how much I fail Him, His love for me will never fall short, or end.  There have been times at a low point in my being that I have cried out to God and it has felt like He is there with me, with His loving arm around my shoulder.  So when my Lady saw this symbol of a Father’s love she bought it for me, and I never tire of looking at it! Nowadays, I keep it on my desk at work for the reason I’ve talked about here, but also as a reminder of the many blessings my Father has placed in my life; an incredible wife, six children counting spouses, five grand-children and a host of far too many to count that have come through our home and relate to Cathy and I as mom and dad, or grandma or grandpa; awesome!  As I’m reminded of these Blessings, I take moments through the day to lift as many as possible in prayer for safety, happiness; and thank God for each of them being a part of my life.

Now then, if we have learned anything from the terrible events of the last few days, we have reached the harsh realization that as long as evil is in the world none of us are immune to tragedy and violence; it can strike anywhere, anytime and totally turn our lives dramatically upside down.  Yes, we can discuss this dilemma and come up with many ways to subdue wickedness, but truth is we can’t do a darn thing to stop it.  Now I don’t wish to come across that I have an answer to this mess, and I’m not looking to wax heartwarming clichés that’s suppose to make you feel better; no, only a long process of healing can do that.  I guess what I’m attempting to say is since Friday I’ve have thought of all the people in my life especially my grandchildren who are in school and my youngest son who is teaching in the Indy school system right now, and I pray for them, and I yearn to let each know how much I love them.  No matter what, this man’s love for them will never fail, just like my Heavenly Father’s love for them, and for you.

Okay, I know I said I wasn’t interested in using any clichés, but I will give you one I’ve used in the past quoted by Chuck Swindoll, “Each day of our lives we make a deposit in the memory banks of our Children.”  Please, dear friends, do everything possible to let your loved ones know how much they mean to you and how special they are, be they 1 to 91!  My belief is the best way to do that is tell them of the love of a Heavenly Father and a Savior, and let them know you how much you love them every chance you’re given, and that you pray for them; nothing can say I love you more in this man’s opinion.  You never know you won’t get that chance again.

Okay, I’m rambling and I know not everyone is going to agree with me, but I still feel I had to say it, thanks for listening; here’s hoping and praying for your tomorrows.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Blessings to you and your loved ones.