From the Pastor’s Heart

A 76-year-old wrote the following as he remembered his dad…. I have many memories about my father and about growing up with him in our apartment next to the elevated train tracks. For twenty years, we listened to the roar of the train as it passed by his bedroom window. Late at night he waited alone on the tracks for the train that took him to his job at a factory where he worked the midnight shift.

On this particular night, I waited with him in the dark to say good-bye. His face was grim. His youngest son had been drafted. I would be sworn in at six the next morning, while he stood at his paper-cutting machine in the factory.

My father had talked about his anger. He didn’t want them to take his child, only 19-years-old, who had never had a drink or smoked a cigarette, to fight a war in Europe. He placed his hands on my slim shoulders: “You be careful, son, and if you ever need anything write to me and I’ll see that you get it.”

Suddenly, he heard the roar of the approaching train. He held me tightly in his arms and gently kissed me on the cheek. With tear-filled eyes, he murmured: I love you my son.” Then the train doors closed him inside and he disappeared into the night.

One month later at the age of 46 my father died. I am 76 as I sit and write this. I once heard Pete Hamill, the New York Reporter, say that memories are people’s greatest inheritance and I have to agree. I’ve lived through four invasions in World War II. I’ve had a life full of all kinds of experiences. But the only memory that lingers is of the night my dad said, “I love you.”

Memories are our greatest inheritance, or at least they should be. And they should be memories of love. IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE…isn’t it?

AS A SON I HAVE MY MEMORIES…

The air was cool and the skies were gray as my mother and I planted flowers on my dad’s grave. I am however, blessed with 43 years of memories of my dad. IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE.

AS A FATHER I AM BLESSED WITH COUNTLESS MEMORIES beginning with my initial cradling of each of my three precious babies in my arms all of those years ago.

Where has the time gone? It goes by so quickly. One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is our time.

It was Father’s Day 1982 and it was going to be my very first Father’s Day Sermon. I sat at the kitchen table in our little house in Hillsville early that Sunday morning going over my sermon. It was a sermon about fathers taking time for their children. Nancy was upstairs getting Amy and Melaine ready and Lee Ann who was not quite seven was continually interrupting my train of thought. “Daddy,” she said, “May I have a piece of paper?” I gave her a piece of paper silently hoping she would not disturb me. It wasn’t but a few minutes and she was standing at my side, “Daddy! Daddy!” she called out. “Lee Ann, can’t you see Daddy is busy?” I replied. “But Daddy, it is important. I need a pen.” I gave her the pen and said, “Now, Lee Ann, please let Daddy study.” She was gone about 15 minutes and returned with a big smile on her face and again shouting… “Daddy! Daddy.” Reluctantly I turned toward her as I noticed she had one hand behind her back. “Here Daddy, this is for you! Happy Father’s Day!” The following is the card she made. I have kept it in my Father’s Day file all of these years and it will remain there as a constant reminder that my actions must match my sermons. IT IS ALL ABOUT TAKING TIME TO LOVE. (I will always wonder if the picture is of me!)

I pray God will give me the wisdom and the time for countless more opportunities for the making of memories.

AND NOW AS A GRANDFATHER…I hold my precious grandbabies and dream of all the ways I will show them how much their old Pappy loves them, giving birth to new memories. IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE.

I pray you are not only making loving memories but you too are sustained by loving memories of parents who love or loved you unconditionally.

Whatever your memories; may you find peace in the knowledge that you have a Heavenly Father who loves you beyond measure; a Father who will never leave you orphaned. IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Blessings,

Pastor Russel