Happy Fathers Day

Today is Fathers Day, and isn’t it wonderful to have a day to recognize and celebrate those men who nurtured, guided, and provided for us, helping to mold us into the men and women we are today! And of course it is a day to give thanks and show our appreciation for the fathers of our children and grandchildren and the grandfathers too! I wish a very Happy Fathers Day to any fathers who may read this blog today!

Growing up I always looked forward to Fathers Day and doing something special for my dad to show him how much I loved him. After he died, when I was seventeen, I always felt sadness as Fathers Day approached. But I was blessed to have his father in my life for many years afterwards and it was always a joy to honor him. Gramps lived well into his nineties and was a wonderful great grandfather to our three boys and daughter. I felt so fortunate to have two amazing fathers to honor on Fathers Day - my Gramps and my husband.

The past eleven Fathers Days have been hard. There has been a hole in my life since the loss of my husband, the amazing father of my children and grandfather of thirteen. He didn't live long enough to meet the youngest four, but I look forward with hope to the reunion of our family in heaven when we will find the circle unbroken and the rejoicing far beyond anything we could imagine here.

I don't usually share very personal things on the Disciplers blog, but I feel compelled to do so today. My husband, Barry, was an avid supporter of Disciplers. He loved and respected Pearl Hamilton, the founder of Disciplers, and her passion for the Word of God. He supported and encouraged my involvement in Disciplers and after Pearl died he humbly took over the teaching of the men's class at our church. He was dedicated to the men he taught and spent hours praying for them and preparing for class. On Wednesday evenings before leaving for class he could be found praying on his knees at the foot of our bed. He never led a class in reliance upon his own ability, and God honored his faithfulness.

Barry had great respect for the Disciplers studies and envisioned a future of sharing them with the world. He recognized the value of Bible study and knew that quality study materials could have a profound effect upon people's lives. He recognized the change in our own lives and in the lives of the men in his class. He wanted others to experience the power of the Word of God in their lives and often voiced his opinion that Disciplers Bible Studies should be online for people to use. His dream has become an exciting reality, to the glory of God.

I would like to honor Barry today by sharing a poem I wrote about him several years ago on Father's Day. It is a poem that expresses my heart of thankfulness for the years God gave me with him.

A man too fine to live down here,
a giving soul, so full of cheer,
a heart filled up with gratitude,
and big hands always doing good.

A family man with quiver filled,
content with anything God willed.
And deep inside, his finest pleasure -
His children’s children were a treasure.

Of worldly treasures he had few
for in his heart he always knew
a hope beyond this fallen place,
a hope inspired by God’s grace.

Each day he greeted with a smile
and thanks that he could stay awhile
to share a bit of what he had
and make a needy person glad.

Too good, too true to stay here long -
a pilgrim who did not belong,
and by His grace God took him home.
Now, face to face, a job well done.

~Suzie

 

 

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