June 21, 2019

This week we celebrated Father’s Day. A wonderful time to honor those who were present in our lives as Fathers. I remember my Father holding me and hugging me when I was little, as I grew older the affection ceased and I did not know why. I think it was felt to be inappropriate to hug a young girl who was entering womanhood and I missed that affection. When our children were growing up, I hope they never doubted their Father’s love. Recently, my husband was having difficulty standing up, our Son lifted his Father up and helped him stand. He said that he remembered his Father carrying him into the house when he had broken his leg and was in a cast and now, he would lift his Father up and carry him. When my granddaughters were growing up, I talked with my son-in-law about how his treatment of them and their Mother would influence the way they allowed men to treat them. Fathers sometimes feel they are in second place when it comes to parenting. They are very important to the forming of those babies, both boys and girls. I am pleased to see the dads my grandson-in-laws are as they take an active and very important role in the raising of our great-grandsons. On this Father’s Day I remembered the only time I saw my Father cry. We had received the telegram that my brother had died. I saw my Father’s sorrow and regret over the years at the loss of his sons. Years later it would be our last conversation 3 days before his own death as he told me of his sorrow and what he felt were his mistakes.

The Parable of the Lost Son.  Luke 15:11-24 There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his Father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.” So, he divided his property between them. Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating but no one gave him anything. When he came to his senses, he said, “How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men. So, he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son said to him,” Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it one him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.”

This is a story of a Father’s love.

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of Fathers here on earth and especially for the Father in heaven that accepts us and forgives us. Be with those who are grieving, those who suffer illness, those who seek you. May our church be a sanctuary for those who seek the peace and comfort that knowing you brings. Amen.

Grace Epperson