"The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him."
--Proverbs 20:7
Reflection:
I’m grateful to God for a Dad who loves the Lord. My father is still living…and reasonably healthy for his 87 years. Dad’s a wonderful writer, and I just finished editing his monthly newsletter, which he distributes to his long-time subscribers, as well as to a whole bunch of lively seniors who live in his beautiful complex.
I was telling Dave, my husband, just this evening, that it seems like Dad has been gone from our home for a long, long time, and yet it has only been two months since he moved to an independent senior living complex. He was with us for a full year, after his dear wife (my step-mother) suddenly required memory care for the onset of dementia, following an emergency surgery. It was such a sad and lonely time for Dad, and heartbreaking for this newlywed couple of just 15 months. But my daddy needed a place to stay for a season, and we were happy to open our hearts and home to this gentle and godly man. He called his bedroom his “little indoor Dawdi Haus.” How sweet is that?
I’ll never forget the day Daddy taught me the Greek alphabet to the tune of “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” and I was just a tot. Dad loves studying God’s word, especially in Greek—he is a longtime student of the Bible, and when I’m writing and want to know the meaning of a particular “root word” for a scripture verse, Dad is always happy to look it up. Quite eager, actually.
This is a man who has lived his life sharing his knowledge of the Bible with others—from the pulpit, and from foreign soil. He has led many hearts to Christ through his years of pastoral and missionary ministry. And he and my mother taught my little sister and me to love Jesus at an early age, as well. He has truly passed on the Faith of our fathers, and I’m truly thankful to have the honor of sharing these tidbits with you on this June blog.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there…and to the women who love them!
Blessings and love,
Bev Lewis
