Parents, Counting your blessings! As I count my blessings this Father’s Day Weekend, one is my Father-in-law. This tall, well dressed, well spoken, gentle giant of a man, is a great leader. He has led in the corporate world with Dean Witter/Discover/Sears in cities across the United States. A man of integrity sought out for deacon boards, finance committees, and other leadership opportunities in the church, this great Bible Study teacher always looked for a church home the first Sunday in every new city his career placed him. He has raised two wonderful children, their spouses, and 6 grandchildren and their significant others. His generosity seems to have no end. He has helped provide vehicles for my growing family, helped with clothes, vacations and in countless other ways. He even invited all six of us and a street rescue dog to live in his home when we were “homeless” between churches. He let us stay when the dog kept climbing over his prized Corvette, breaking through the garage window screen to escape and chase neighborhood domestic rabbits, Governor’s Club golf balls, and golfers who may have seemed too close to “her territory.” His patience is enviable. He has a special relationship with each of my children, impacting their lives at significant times in their growing up years and still now as young adults. He and Nana showed up for every special milestone and event in their lives, with praise, gifts, and endless words of encouragement. He is quite the grill chef… burgers, brats, flank steak, brisket, ribs, pork… His Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts are unrivaled. His love and care for people comes out in the wonderful food he prepares and serves for his family and friends. He is a great husband to a wonderful wife. He is a great duck hunter, skeet shooter and golfer… his duck salad is the best way I have ever enjoyed eating wild duck! He is a gifted wood carver and has carved wonderful geese, ducks and other waterfowl with grace and precision. He has given these as priceless wedding gifts to Anita and me and my recently married children. His writings are thoughtful and encouraging. After our broken engagement and reuniting, when hearts were tender, raw and broken, his thoughtfully written words and careful wood carving brought hope and healing to our lives. He spoke of how when making the Canada Goose it was made in three separate parts that were fused together. Two separate parts made the body, but without the connection to the third part, the head, the two parts meant nothing. He spoke about the two body parts representing Anita and me that would become “one” and that Christ was the head of the marriage, without Him the relationship would be meaningless. Love and respect for Christ and each other would prevail as the foundation for a happy home.
This is great wisdom for all of us… when marriages, churches, and communities are broken, we need Christ, the Head of us all to join us together, lead us and heal us. Paul spoke of how love and respect were so important and that “...Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body.” Ephesians 5:23 (CSBBible) I’m so thankful for Jesus and this man I count as a blessing, a second father to me, and spiritual patriarch for his clan. His wisdom from Above points us all toward Jesus and healthy connection. Happy Father’s Day Glenn! Thank you for the ways you lead under the headship of Christ.
Hang in there people! God is with us! I’m praying for you all!
