Saturday, June 18, 2011

Happy Father's Day!


My dear daddy is now with his heavenly Father. I miss him so much, but I know he is rejoicing with my dear mama who has probably shown him around. Actually, she was probably put in charge of showing everyone around. 


My daddy was a simple, humble and loving man. First of all he loved his Lord. He was faithful to the end. He was an awesome daddy. While I didn't always agree with his decisions I always knew he had my best interest at heart.


I have often described him as a man with a "Peace of God That Passeth All Understanding" taken from Philippians 4:7.. He was born in 1915 to a less than wealthy family. His mother died when he was eleven years old. His sweet daddy raised him and this two younger siblings alone. He lived during some extremely hard times and worked, in the south, with CCC's. One of the New Deal's most famous jobs programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). By mid-1933, some 300,000 jobless young men between the ages of 18 and 25 were hired to work in the nation's parks and forests. You can read about it here. My dad worked in south Georgia, building roads.

He learned a trade as a carpenter, married my mama and settled down for a simple life. As a young father he lost his first child, a daughter, who was less that six years old. He and my mamma recovered, I thought, and raised their remaining child, me. It was many years before I learned that they never really recovered, indeed no one can.


He later followed a call to enter the ministry. Without a lot of education, he attended formal theology schooling through night classes offered through the Southern Baptist Association. He was an avid reader and left a large library. 
After being licensed and ordained as a Baptist minister he became known for teaching the love of God toward all. He believed in John 3:16. He always said "I don't believe in 
scared salvation, when you lose your fear you lose your salvation". He believed in a salvation of love, grace and mercy. 


When life should have been getting easy, my mamma became very ill with heart problems. They struggled together to meet her needs and the needs of the church. He was a loving and compassionate caretaker and prolonged her life many years. Still she died at the young age of 59. 


A few years before my daddy died, at the age of 79, he told me he loved his Lord and that he had had a "Wonderful Life".  This elderly and sickly man who lost his mom when just a child, too young, lost his first child, too young, lost his wife, too young, worked hard labor, never had or desired great riches, lived very simply, praised God and said "I have had a wonderful life". Truly this man had the "Peace of God That Passeth All Understanding". Do You?


This day my prayer is simple. May each daddy who reads this short account of my dad desire to leave similar thoughts, love and legacy in the hearts of their own children.


To all Daddys out there, Happy Father's Day!
To my daddy and mamma, I love you.


I am joining The Tablescaper~Seasonal Sunday
                     Spiritual Sundays
Please visit these links on this special day for inspiration.
Thank you for hosting. 

14 comments:

The Tablescaper said...

Such a wonderful tribute to fathers. Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

- The Tablescaper

xinex said...

What an extraordinary person your dad was, Ginger. And you gave him the best deserving tribute a loving daughter could...Christine

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Ginger,

Your Daddy and Mamma will be smiling down from heaven... What a lovely post! Life is never easy but the grace that you described here covers a lot of the silent suffering.

Lots of love and have a wonderful Father's Day with fond memories!

Mariette

Lynn said...

A very touching tribute Ginger. Have a great day:@)

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Ginger this is such a sweet tribute to your Dad. Mine is also gone and I miss him so much each and every day.
hugs, Linda

Snap said...

Beautiful tribute to your father and to fathers everywhere. Have a beautiful week and thank you!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

What a wonderful tribute to your dear dad, some things you say reminds me of mine, I do miss him so much too, he passed away 15 years ago, in 1996! Beautiful tribute for all our Father's, we have our Father from heaven now. Thank you sweetie for the most lovely and generous comments on my F's Day tablescape. having a wonderful day with your darling hubby and lots of hugs. FABBY

Anonymous said...

Ginger,
What a wonderful and beautiful post! I love your dad's heart as your portrayed it. Wonderful!

rnpurcell said...

Ginger,
This is a wonderful tribute to the loving Father you had.
Hugs,
Reba

Debbie said...

What a wonderful tribute to a man who left a wonderful legacy of both love and faith to his daughter.

You were very blessed.

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

Thank-you for sharing this tribute on your father. I pray that my husband and I can take care of each other if one of us get sick as we grow older.
Blessings,
Ginger

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

Ginger,

This is a beautiful post...every word.

How blessed so many are to have such wonderful Fathers. I think your Dad was blessed to have you too!

Nancy

Pamela said...

What a legacy your father left behind. This story touched my heart. It's easy to see why you are so dear.

Blessings,
Pamela

Charlotte said...

This is a beautiful tribute to your father. He gave you so much that money cannot buy. Thank you for sharing this blessing.
Charlotte

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