A Father's Day Meditation

It was only a week ago we met in the church to say goodbye. It was my brother’s funeral. He would have been proud, very proud. For not only were his four children there but his eleven grandchildren. One granddaughter stood and sang accompanied on a guitar by another grandson. His daughter moved to the piano and played as we all sang a hymn. His youngest son came to the pulpit and opened up his heart. And grief flowed in that room like a river.

This Daddy was no saint. Which Daddy is. Sometimes I think his lows were about as low as one could get. Yet—he did not stop. He did what he could. And maybe that’s the point that children must realize. Some think Daddies must look like that Norman Rockwell picture where Dad is this perfect creature that is always there and always does the right thing. But if we strip away the sentiment of Father’s Day we can see that underneath it all he is just like us—a human being trying to make it through. 

Somewhere I clipped this Letter to the Editor. I think it is a pretty good piece for this special Day we name Father. 

“On every Father’s Day, all I ever see are letters, columns or stories from children praising their Dads to high heaven. And that’s fine. While I don’t want to rain on their parade, for me and all those fathers whose children are estranged from us for whatever dumb reason, it was a painful day. So, to all those Dads as they say in the beer commercial: This one’s for you!

Stuff happens: separation, divorce, misunderstandings, arguments, fights, you name it. Bad things happen to good people. But, whatever happened to any of us should be forgiven and forgotten Father’s Day. Maybe the day will be the start of something big, like reconciliation. 

Listen, all of you kids who currently are not talking to us. You have to know how thrilled we were when you were born and how proud we were as you grew up. We’re father, dad, pops. And no matter what, you are undeniably our children., for whom we have unconditional love.

So, let me tell all of you, who owe your lives to your fathers (and mothers): There is no good reason on God’s earth why you should not contact your father open this special day. Come on, give your old man a break. Call or send a card. You will not regret it. Remember, “Honor thy father and thy mother” was a a commandment—not a suggestion.   Have a good Father’s Day, guys, I hope you get a call or a card.”

Some us cannot send a card or call. Our fathers are dead. But on this day maybe it is time even for us to stop and ponder the tiny graces that came and the love whether spoken or unspoken that they give us.Or tried to give us in their own way.

Gene Lovett

September 24, 1939 - May 28, 2019

--Roger Lovette / rogerlovette.blogspot.com