WRITINGS FOR DAD ON HIS 90TH BIRTHDAY

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.

For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit."   Jer 17:7-8

 

 

I decided I was a Conscientious Objector to the Viet Nam war in my junior year in college.  Dad was not happy.  When I broke the news he was so upset he could hardly speak.  Dad didn’t often get serious angry, but he was then.  His WWII experience gave him no way to understand me—and he gave me the silent treatment for about a month. 

Then, I needed a ride back to MSU for fall term.  I asked him and he said OK.  He quietly drove, while I decided to risk telling him of all I’d been thinking, point by point during the way back to school.  It was the best I could remember of the required ten page paper I’d been working on for my draft board presentation. 

The basis for the whole thing was my faith—that Jesus wanted all of us to find other ways than killing to defend our lives.  Dad would know my faith was a gift he and mom had given all of us by the devout consistent way they’d believed and acted.

He kept patiently listening, as I somewhat anxiously continued on, chapter and verse and various sources.  After a half hour of my monologue, he finally said as I paused, “Make sure you wear some decent clothes, and don’t be too wordy!”  A great weight was lifted between us, and I was proud to have a Dad that could forgive, and change his mind, mostly just because he loved me.  It’s been a powerful lesson for me to try and live up to with my children—to be a loving listening father like my father.

Thanks, Dad

 

Limerick best recited while viewing the companion illustration on same subject in the Duct Tape Book of Joe.

There was a mechanical marvel named Joe,
Every car trick in the book he did know.

But no inch could his van make,

Till he released the parking brake,

Which his daughter-in-law did him, politely show.

 

Artwork by Ande Gaines McCarthy -- from her "Unauthorized Story of Curious Joe" {a.k.a. "Duct Tape Book of Joe"}

 

"Beatus" Illumination by Kathy Brahney

Thanks to my sisters Jane and Mary who made our family party happen--on Sept 21st {would have been Mom & Dad's 67th anniversary}  Dad's birthday actually on Sept. 11th.