The Father in Your Life
For those that still have their fathers, covet the times you have. Whether your relationship is sometimes a rolling storm or a calm tranquil sea; you have the opportunity to make it better or make more good memories. You have a choice. Cherish it.
My father died when I was 13 and there was a lot left unsaid, unshared, unresolved. My father was a good man but a mortal like the rest of us with foibles, and temptations. He had a temper and would sometimes react before he got the facts; mom having to straighten him out.
But he was also the man who taught me my prayers, shared his faith in God, made history come alive, and shared his love of music with me. We would run errands together and sing songs between stops. I learned all the arm forces songs as we drove around Rome, Italy making deliveries. When we lived in Rome, we often spent Sundays attending church at the Vatican and then shared a meal at a restaurant before literally getting “lost” in Rome discovering new sites and adventurers throughout the afternoon. He was an amazing historian and told us about the little known events that you would never read or learn about in school. Perhaps that is where I get my love for storytelling.
Good and bad – his impact on my life continues as I grow older and assimilate who he was, why he was the way he was and how and why I am because of it. And its all good. God has given me the father I was meant to have and I have been blessed by it.
“Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.” —Pam Brown
Somewhere, God has placed a father-figure in your life to help you fill that void. Perhaps it’s an older sibling, an uncle, or a neighbor that comes along side you to share the highs and lows of your life, to teach you, raise a glass of wine or beer, or just listen to you. Father’s come in all shapes, sizes and types. My uncle was a father figure for me after my father died and I learned what patience looked like. And then there was a wonderful man who came into my mother’s life years after my dad passed away and he loved me like his own. Professor gave me my first job at the university bio science department which helped paved my interest in all things medical. It is where my journey into surviving medical mayhem began.
If you have never had a father in your life; remember that you have a Heavenly Father who is always with you, and will never leave you. It is God, the Father to whom you can share your life, your loves, your fears, your hopes and your dreams. Whether your earthly father is alive or not, no one can ever take away your Heavenly Father. God is ever present – simply for the asking.
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor 6:18
So this weekend, take the time to think about your father or the father figure in your life. And if you feel blessed – take a moment and let him know just what he means to you. May the love you both share be the ripple in the sea of your life affecting all those around you.
Thank you for reading my post. If you have found it encouraging please consider liking, commenting or sharing it. Feel free to even re-blog – may these words take flight!
I have additional insights I’d love to share with you found in the pages of my debut book: Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts. To order a copy or learn more go to my website at www.lorettaschoen.com
Blessings for Health & Wellness.