forgiveness

Forgiveness

~ Dear ol' Dad ~ Leave a comment

As fathers, there may be no better work we do than to forgive our children. As children ourselves, there is no greater give we can receive.
A word, a comfort, a gift. A reflection of our Father’s mercy and love.

To forgive does not come easy to our flesh. We hold on to pride and our idea of perfection. When we truly can give in to Grace, and acknowledge our own ability to forgive, we are set free.

Often, the simple answers are best. The gifts that cannot be purchased are those most valuable.

-DoD

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Let me tell you ’bout my best friend

~ Dear ol' Dad ~ 2 Comments

Nothing in life is sweeter than knowing if you lost it all, you’d at least have the trust and love and warmth of your better half next to you. The one you share your life and breath. The one you rear shared lifeblood with.

Our trust is so deep, we needn’t contemplate its fragile human pitfalls. We may at times forget that we are on the same team.

We may give in to the moment, and selfish, stubborn pride. We will always forgive, as we have been forgiven – she will just have to do it more often…

Thank God for your your Love, your Trust, and your beautiful Spirit.

-DoD

Are you Kinder than a 5th grader?

~ Dear ol' Dad ~ 4 Comments

Some lessons are taught best by those unburdened by age, experience, and perilous “knowledge” of life and our expertise of it. While it is our duty as parents to train our children, why do we end up learning so much from them? 

Forgiveness: the one lesson I keep having to learn the hard way from my little ones. Why are they so quick to forgive me? There are times when I should thank my children on the hour for giving me a pass on poor behavior. It is a reflection from below, as we see from above. We are continually forgiven by our children as we are by our Father in Heaven. More often than not, we are deserving of neither.

This wonderful gift is just that – a gift. One that should not be taken advantage of. I pray that I do not abuse the forgiveness of those below, around, or He who is above.

-DoD

Brain Damage

~ Dear ol' Dad ~ Leave a comment

It’s been a week or so since the Cosby story really started gaining momentum. Similar time has passed since my last post… The NPR “no response” story was what prompted me to begin drafting a blog post last week, and the process has taken me on a ride. I did not want my desire to write about the subject to push me into positions of either judgment, or defense of the man in question. So I pondered a bit, and ultimately came back to my initial observation of the NPR story in particular.

After hearing of Bill’s response to Scott Simon’s inquiry, memory and my immediate process of thought caused me to recall a story of a child with “brain damage”. It was Cosby’s own observations of a guilty child and his less-than-intelligent response when caught in the act of unacceptable behavior. The story was clear that the child had been given direction mere moments prior to the act, distinguishing right and wrong. Nevertheless, the child chooses a direction against the wishes of the parent, and this very recent instruction.

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not what I want, but the very thing I hate. Romans 7:15

Such is the dilemma of humanity documented first in Genesis. My first memorable exposure to the Genesis story was delivered to me in a somewhat non-traditional way. This introduction to Adam’s fall was etched in my memory by Cosby in the very same performance that included the bit about “brain damage”.

The Cosby delivery of this story was not intended to be a profession of faith, and that fact he makes clear in the material. The story is meant to entertain as an observation of human imperfection. How common this observation can be in any given person’s daily walk – no more so than the first glance during a man’s morning shave. How much more interesting is it to observe a once-beloved star falling rather ungracefully, than to acknowledge one’s own folly and adjust according to God’s will?

It is my prayer that the imperfection of humanity, not just a man, is the “big idea” we can take away from the unfortunate situation. We are charged in Philippians 2:3 to regard others above ourselves. It is to this ideal that we strive, but when we fall short, it is only the blood of Christ which saves a sinner.

-DoD

It takes all kinds, and it takes time

~ Dear ol' Dad ~ 1 Comment

As another weekend is winding down here at the homestead, a guy has to stand in awe at the diversity among the members of his extended family after spending time with a good number of them. He also has to reflect on how God has blessed and improved his life through that cast of characters, while marveling at the phenomenon of man and wife from such different backgrounds.

There is a certain poetic juxtaposition of our nearly opposite upbringing, but nearly indistinguishable ideals and beliefs.  Ways in which opposites were created to attract can bear very little resemblance to the logic of man’s own mind.  While in the course of building a family, the dynamic of learning and growing has pushed our marriage to fantastic limits.  The tough lessons learned in the course of our 10+ year marriage, I would not change for anything. That said, there are lessons that still make me uncomfortable when looking back.

While we have made mistakes, we have more often than not, made them together.  We will continue to fall short in life, and I pray that we will not find ways to repeat errors from our history.  There is no better way to describe this process than my new favorite truism, “practice makes progress”.

A message everyone who has been along for the ride so far – Thanks for everything, including forgiveness, and God Bless you all!

-DoD