Father's day

On Sunday, it will be Father's Day. I know for many the word "Father" brings up many different images, ranging from happiness to anger and bitterness. Many of these come from the background that one was raised in.

Mine is somewhere in the middle. But the thing that I will always remember the most is the way my father was during the time in the hospital. I will always remember how at first, my Father was sickened whenever the wound nurse came in to change the sponges in the open wound in my abdominal area. But by sheer force of will, he began to learn to tolerate what was going on to the point where near the end, he became an unoffical aide to the wound care nurse. He would have all the instruments, sponges, and other things out ready for her. And he would even help in the procedures.

One of the other things that he did was to help was that, when I would be out doing my physical therapy walk, he would change the bed from top to bottom and be able to get whatever blankets I would need. He would be there every morning as soon as he was allowed (actually some days, he was there earlier), and stayed until late in the afternoon to be at my side and help me to take care things that I needed to do.

During that time, he became more than a father to me, he became in a sense, my left arm. My favorite memory of how much he had been appreciated was on certain days, he was given a free meal by the staff so that he wouldn't have to go out for lunch.

And in a sense, although I don't know whether or not he thought about it; my father was giving an illustration of the type of the love that our Heavenly Father has for us. He loved us and gave of Himself for us to take care of the need that we had, the need for salvation.

So no matter how our relationship goes (and at times it can go from one extreme to another), I'll always remember and appreciate what he did for me and the example that he gave....to me, to those he came in contact with....and I pray that he will hear the words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant" in relation to this time.....