I don't have a lot of memories of doing things with my father when I was a kid. I don't remember very many times when we played ball or he came to my little league games. I don't remember him taking me fishing very often or going exploring or on some adventure. I don't remember him reading stories to me at night.
I do remember one afternoon he taught me to hit a ball. I do remember him one afternoon teaching me to ride a bike which ended in me violently crashing into a tree and lots of cuts and scrapes on my body. I remember him helping me set up my Lionel train set on the dining room table. I can remember our annual camping excursion when we were a little older. I can remember him telling stories to us about Alexander the Great in the car on our long Christmas trips to my grandparents. I can also remember hanging around church A LOT. But as a whole, I don't have a whole lot of childhood memories with my dad.
When I was in high school, I went along on one of my dad's speaking trips at my parents persistence. On the 3 hour ride to his engagement we barely spoke to each other. Not out of anger or disagreement. We just didn't have anything to say to each other. We didn't have a whole lot of conversation on the way home either. But I do remember asking him about why he invested so much time in ministry at the expense of his family. His response left me unsatisfied. He told me basically that he had to fulfill his calling, that his commitment to Christ had come first and that he trusted God to care for the needs of his family.
As a teen, I didn't really understand that. However, my dad never walked away from us or really neglected us. But he was willing to sacrifice time with us to a greater Godly end. Hundreds, probably thousands, maybe tens of thousands, of lives are in the Kingdom of God today because of his willingness to answer God's call and obey His will. All four of us kids are currently involved in fulltime local ministries, as are some of the grandchildren. Today my dad is closing in on his eternal reward in heaven which I know will be richer than mine because of his life ministry. But he has seen a glimmer of his reward here in this life through the transformed lives he personally effected and those whom were transformed through the influence of his ministry.
God, I can't help but think of Abraham who left everything, his home and family, to follow you and your call. You gave him an eternal family because of his willingness to leave it all and follow you. You gave him a spiritual heritage that has lasted for over 4,000 years and a family that continues to grow bigger and bigger each day as people all over the world come to faith in Christ. God, I want to be like my dad who was willing to leave it all behind and follow you with everything he had.
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