Remembering Dad On His Birthday

1969 Garfield James Ferris

I don’t remember a lot of dad’s sermons, but I do remember he lived what he believed.
I remember him caring for those who had little, bringing them into our home, showing them love and respect.
I remember him laughing, smiling, enjoying life wherever he was. He saw the funny side of things instead of the negative.
I remember his ability to learn to do almost anything. I rarely heard him say ‘I can’t.’ He always found a way  – whether it was repairing a grandchild’s toy truck or building a church – he figured out how to and he did it.
I remember how it hurt him to be criticized and how he turned that into a resolve to not be critical of others.
I remember how he encouraged us to be who we were. To risk trying again or trying something new. He rarely gave up on anything. He never gave up on us.
Though each of us went through our own forms of hell, we always knew dad loved us and that he was praying for us.
We have not become great  – but we all  love and respect others and give what we have to those in need and we trust and expect the best of those around us.
We love God’s world, enjoy a good laugh now and then and have the ability to get up from our failures and tackle something new.
We each know a God of mercy, love and forgiveness – not because of any sermons we heard but because we had a dad who lived what he believed.

©Sharron R. McMillan