My dad passed away in January 2000. He had suffered from Alzhiemers for a few years and had been placed in a nursing home the last 2 years of his life.
He was stricken with pneumonia just after his 64th birthday and after fighting valiantly for about 3 days, the Lord called him home to heaven.
My dad was a Christian. Had been since he was a teenage boy.
There was nothing spectacularly spritual about him in all the days that I knew him.
He did his best to teach me right from wrong as I was growing up and always made sure we went to Sunday School and church.
I can't say that I saw him pray in public very often but I did see it a few times. It made me proud when I saw him pray. Even though he was not a very open man with his spiritual side, he always helped me know there were absolutes in life.
The times that I abused my rights to live a free and moral life, he was quick to show me I was wrong and was punished accordingly. More than once his belt was brought across my butt. I straightened up immediately.
And before long, I was back to my old ways.
Sometimes I hated my dad for the way he punished me.
But as I look back on my life, I can see how the way he chose to discipline me was his own way of showing me his love.
If I was never corrected, I would be allowed to live and act as stupid and immoral as I pleased. Not having consequenses to fear that would be a direct result of my actions, there would be nothing to to restrain me from doing whatever I wanted....regardless of the action.
You see, my dad loved me enough to correct my sorry behavior, because he knew what was best. He knew that if he didn't intervene and show me the correct way, that I might continue down the path of bad behavior and no one knows where that path could have led ultimately.
As I grew older, I began to understand more and more, his love for me. I was able to choose my future....would I go to college? Would I choose a vocation?
The wonderful answer is YES. I could do either. Because I wasn't in jail serving time for committing a crime. My dad helped me way back when, all those times when he corrected me, and it has helped me become a better person.
I now have children of my own.
I see in my two young sons myself. They have much of the same type of rambunctious personality as I did.
And I do my best to correct them when it is necessary.
I love them so much. I don't want them to live free of discipline and free of correction. Sometimes correction is painful.......because it usually means a surrender of one's will. Capitulation if you will.
My earthly father is now with my Heavenly father.
I know that some day I will join him in eternity. And someday will then be joined by my wife and children.
I thank my Heavenly father for the love and discipline my earthly father showed to me as a young boy.
I live my life with the knowledge that the saving faith of Jesus Christ has secured our eternal destiny.
YES. I have a faith and a hope. I have an internal peace and security that I live with each day.
I wake up each morning and know that if I die that day, I will see the face of my Heavenly Father and be re-united with my earhtly father.
My Heavenly Father corrects each of us also with love and compassion each time we need it. He does so in a way that gives us time to see just how merciful He is to us.
Sometimes he does so with a gentle hand, sometimes with a strong hand. But each time He does so, it is done with our best interests in mind.
Many people become very angry and bitter at the circumstances in their lives. So many times it just becomes so easy to blame God for their problems.
Funny thing is......all the people who claim God doesn't exist are the first to blame Him for the problems in their lives. Well, really, it isn't funny is it?
God is reaching out to you today. Just take a few minutes and examine your life. Yes, ALL the pain you have experienced. Take a few minutes and look at your heart. Look deeply into your past and search your memory for all the times that maybe just one person had tried to reach out to you. Consider if you will that that one single solitary person, may have been God's way of trying to reach out to you.
You have all heard the saying: God works in mysterious ways.
Take a look.
See what you find.

Praise the Lord