Remember fathers by throwing lifeline to a child
- bchfamily
- Jun 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 9
I remember Dad's encouraging words throughout my life. "You can do this. Keep trying." He would come home from work, tired, but that did not stop him. We would make our way to the basketball goal located in the back yard. He encouraged me as I practiced for hours, hoping to make the basketball team. I remember the excitement when I made the team, but the excitement of running into the house that evening and sharing with my dad I had made the team made the experience truly memorable. His encouragement had given me the courage to believe I could put the ball in the basket and make the team. I am grateful for a loving encouraging father!
One of my favorite memories of my dad is our Thursday night church visitations. A group would gather at the church for prayer and would go visit those they felt God had put on their heart. This was typically a group of men that would gather in the upper room of the church. I am so grateful my dad realized God's call on my heart and would bring me along for many gospel teaching moments. That was when I learned from my earthly father the importance of crying out to my heavenly father on behalf of others.
Dad was a fixer. He could fix anything that had a motor. He would tinker for hours on one of the old tractors. He taught me how to drive one of those tractors. All was good until the day I hit the house coming around the corner a little too fast. Obviously, he was better at fixing the tractor than teaching me how to drive it. Dad instilled within me the need to be a fixer, whatever the problem—however not motors or technology.
Dad was a builder. He and my uncle built the house my family lived in for more than 65 years. He taught me the importance of building, not houses, but building up people. He was an encourager to all who knew him. I remember at his funeral people kept coming up to me telling me about how Mom and Dad had been a friend to them and helped them.
Dad was a teacher. I remember sitting at the dining room table the night before my first job. I would be running the cash register the next morning. I knew that if I did not count the money back to the customer correctly that the cash register would not balance at end of the day. I was nervous to say the least. Mom and Dad sat with me for over an hour learning to make change (now it is all done electronically). Dad taught me to teach by example—no matter what the lesson.
Dad was a musician. He had a song in his sweet heart and shared it through his gift of music. He was so very gifted. He played the guitar, the bass, and the piano. He had a beautiful voice. I remember whenever we would travel in the car, we would sing. My mother also has a beautiful voice. When I was a young child, I sang loud and terribly off key. As I listened and learned from my Dad and Mom, my voice changed. I was taught a new song. I was given a new voice—one of joy and hope. Today, I still sing loud—however hopefully in key.
When learning to swim Dad was there holding me up. I remember every time he would let go, I would feel like I was sinking. My dad was my lifeguard, often times my lifeline, not just when I was learning to swim but throughout my life.
As summer approaches, many of our children will make their way to the pool. I can almost hear their giggles as they splash around in the water. I see our lifeguard there to keep watch over them. For our children, the pool water is cool, refreshing, and lots of fun—but we know there are dangers. Too many of our children have experienced the dangerous side of life. No one has watched over them or protected them. There were no "lifeguards" against the physical and sexual abuse, neglect, or the perils of the opioid epidemic. There were no "lifeguards" to keep them off the street. There were no "lifeguards" to encourage them to keep swimming or to throw them a lifeline.
Many of our children have not known their fathers. They have not protected them or cared for them. Their earthly fathers have not been a spiritual guide, a fixer, a builder, a teacher, a song of hope, or lifeline to them.
Father's Day is June 15. In honor or in memory of your dad, you have an opportunity this Father's Day to remember him in a way that provides a lifeline to a child in need. All honor and memorial gifts given between April 1 and July 1 will be listed in our August issue of Charity & Children. We are printing the names of those honored and of those who gave. This is a wonderful opportunity to honor your father.
For those who have been builders, teachers, fixers, a song of hope, and lifeguards, thank you! For those who have loved, prayed, nurtured, mentored, and supported, thank you! When our children are struggling to stay afloat, when they feel as if they are swimming against the current of despair and hopelessness, you are there. Thank you for helping us throw out the lifeline of Christ's love to children and families.
In James 1:27, we read, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." In Psalm 68:5, we read, "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling."
Thank you for helping us to be fathers to the fatherless and defenders of widows by pointing them to our heavenly father.
I would love to hear how you celebrated Father's Day. Email or text me your Father's Day celebration ideas and or pictures. Again, thank you for living out God's calling on your hearts to be a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows. We love you and appreciate you so very much.
Happy Father's Day!
Written by Brenda B. Gray, Executive Vice President, Development & Communications
