A few days ago an idea popped into my head for a gift. I stumbled upon a song he mentioned about 15
years ago by an artist I’d never heard of.
How I found it at just this time and remembered that my dad wanted that
song, I will leave for you to decide. I
believe I was guided. I’ve let God know
that I am willing to do this work and He is helping me. Showing me that He’s got my back.
I spent many hours putting together this very personal gift
for my dad. Songs from his youth on two cds. I was starting to think Father’s Day might
not be so bad. (I also made his favorite
dessert, which is traditional.)
The morning went well at home with my husband and kids. I went to church in a good mood. The speaker was the son of one of my dad’s
best friends from a few years ago (he passed away when I was in high school, I
think). He talked about his dad, and
other crusty men, and how they parent.
How they show love. He talked
about the things his dad taught him.
Many things he said touched my heart in a very personal way. I felt a love and tenderness for my dad that
I don’t think I’ve ever felt before. It was healing for me.
As I listened to him speak I realized that my dad loved me
in the only way he knew how, the only way he saw modeled as he grew up. He provided for us and prepared us for the
world. He taught his kids to be hard
workers. Teaching us independence was
important to him. Teaching us to help
others. To be good people. He never learned how to be tender.
In that moment, I felt impressed that I could be the one to
teach him how to love me. It wasn’t
modeled before him, but I can model it.
Part of that is learning how to speak up when he says or
does something unkind. I need to be able
to tell him when he hurts my feelings. Something to work on in therapy.
I went up to his house determined to lead. I can choose the relationship I have with him
now no matter what relationship we had in the past. Choosing a good relationship now doesn’t mean
the past doesn’t matter, just that I don’t have to live there anymore.
I walked in and went right over and gave him a hug (I could
count the number of hugs we’ve ever shared on one hand). I presented him with his treat and then his
gift. He was receptive to all my
offerings. It was a good moment.
I don’t think I’m through it all. There is still some fear that I struggle
with. And this was a good mood day for
both of us. But I feel like it’s more
important than ever that I heal this. I
used to wish I could put off doing my therapy work regarding him until he was
dead. That would be easier. Then I realized I needed to do it now for my
own peace of mind. Now I understand that
if I am going to help him learn to show love in a way his family can feel, then
I need to hurry. He’s a healthy 70-years
old, but our time is still limited.
Our Sunday School lesson was on having that mighty change of
heart. Letting Christ change us. Choosing to give away all our sins to know
God. And sometimes beating our head
against the brick wall to help someone change because we are being prompted to
keep trying.
Our Young Women lesson was on forgiveness. Letting go of hurts and insults is for us, to
heal us. And as we do, we can model for
others. Maybe they will see our behavior
and our joy and seek to find it for themselves.
Forgiving others brings us peace.
And serving those who have wronged us helps us forgive them.
Everywhere I turned today was something guiding me toward healing my relationship with my dad. This was not a day of coincidences. This was God saying, “Keep going. I’m with you all the way.”