Happy Father's Day

I guess I was in a certain mood the other day for a certain reason.  I knew father's day was approaching but when I posted my last blog it was not on my mind.   This morning my heart is a little heavy because this world has designated this day to be a day of celebration of fathers and mine is no longer here on earth for me to celebrate.  So instead of this day being a day of celebration for me it is usually a day of mourning.  How can I change that?

I know I had a great dad.  He loved me and he didn't have to tell me for me to know.  He showed it in every way.  He was not a perfect man.  He made mistakes and those mistakes affected the lives of those around him such as me, my brother, and my sister.  I used to be very angry about it.  I even blamed God, but that anger turned to bitterness and then to a sadness every fathers day. 

This year I started this day off with a prayer.  I prayed for a heart of thankfulness.  Instead of lingering on the fact that my dad is no longer here on this earth, I will celebrate the fact that I had an opportunity to have a wonderful father and think about all of the great memories he left me.

That simple prayer has already changed the atmosphere of this day.

I truly love my father and I wish that he was here with me and my family, but for what ever reason God has chosen to take him home to be with him.  I have to believe that God has His reasons and I'm okay with whatever it is. 

In the absence of my earthly father, I have had no choice but to turn to my spiritual father (GOD) for guidance on things I probably would never have done.  I look back and thank God simply for that because my life has turned out for the best.

My kids will never know my father on earth they can only look at pictures and listen to my stories and when their older visit his grave, but my spiritual father they will surely know and I pray they will have an even stronger relationship than I ever have.  That is the greatest inheritance that I can ever leave to them.