'MY DAD'S HANDS' - 'HAPPY FATHER'S DAY'
Father's Day is a special day. A father has so many roles.
'Fathering a child' is much different than 'being a father'. Love, compassion, integrity, honesty, perseverance, maturity, responsibility and supporting a child is vital in raising and molding any child. A father thinks nothing of it each and every day. A father does it all out of 'love' and 'a desire'. This is what a 'real father' does and enjoys the rewards of this child. It is a privilege, obligation and an honor.
I think many people have reflected back on their child life experiences and have wished they would have had things differently. I think at times, we can easily look at somebody's father and wish they were a part of our lives. Perhaps, not as a 'whole', tho. We see just parts of a father's role in them. But, at the end of the day, God has chosen the father that we have. As we get older and mature, we realize that life wasn't so bad. And, as adults, we have choices to choose from. We can take the good things/good times that our fathers' taught us from our past experiences, choose to take the challenges we experienced and grow from all of them.
I feel we sometimes think we can shift our disappointments in life and direct them to who was 'in charge' or 'the head of the household' at the time. Nevertheless, it still comes back to the fact, as adults we much always and ever, turn within, seek without blame and continue on our life's journey in a blessed way. It is never too late to do this. It is our choice. God has provided us with 'free will' and HE will guide us along the way.
I pen this because I know that I have had some of these thoughts. I feel it is not fair in the reflections of 'my Dad' to avoid this area, as well. I know without a doubt that 'my Dad' worked hard, loved me and did what he thought was good with the knowledge and experiences that he had growing up. I love 'my Dad'!
I would like to share a little about my father through the following poem. My father is 97 years old. I call my father, DAD.
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| 'My Dad's Hands' |
'My Dad's Hands'
Looking at 'my Dad's hands',
tell a story of its' own.
They remind me of so many things
that he has done from way back home.
My Dad is up in age today,
Well, very soon, he will be 98.
He was always working hard each day.
He worked from dawn til almost eight.
My Dad could do a lot of things.
He toiled in the dirt, coal, to greasing ole cars.
My Dad provided food on the table
that was good for us and, yes, even candy bars.
He worked really hard on the farm
and the soil he did till.
Fields of wheat, beans and corn,
this is what paid our bills.
Yes, my Dad's hands are worn
and a bit wrinkled and stiff.
But, they tell a story of hard work
and this isn't just a myth.
'My Dad's hands' are cracked, dry
and the age upon them shows.
But, with time, brings an awareness
to things that are 'dear for evermore'.
Yes, 'my Dad's hands' tell me a story
that my memory will always 'hear'.
Cause when I look at 'my Dad's hands'
I will always think of our yesteryears.
copyrighted by Doris Swertfeger
2013
Until next time
God Bless
Doris
"What Rests on a Foundation is Every Bit as Critical as the Base Itself"
I find life experiences interesting. I am sure there are others out there that do, as well.
Generations come and go. There doesn't seem to be too much difference in how 'relationships', play out, if you will, in accordance to past generations. Please allow me to clarify.
In all families and friends, we find there are no perfect entities. The 'human aspect' is always in play. However, behavior patterns of their actions unrelated to the 'foundation of the soul' are revealed. Or, are they? I feel that they are in time. Do you ever feel that what appears is happening in certain circles are not necessarily how the events are truly unfolding? It is only in appearance to the world's view? Mostly, from the 'human aspect' view.
Have you ever felt or noticed how some people strive each day to be on purpose in each and every action that they do out of character, responsibility, integrity and respect for themselves and their children? I certainly hope so. This is a person that has a foundation that stands tall in their 'soul' and nobody can ever rip it away from them.
We all were created this way and/or the 'center of the soul' was intended to be exercised fully and daily in all persons' lives. But, when 'free will' was given so graciously to each of us, not everybody chose this for their path. I feel the intent of the creator was to 'balance' the 'human entity' and the 'spirit of the soul'. In doing this, we always and ever come full circle to the 'choices' we 'choose' in our actions each and every day.
There are so many misconceptions as to how things really are in ones surroundings and in the public view.
I was recently reading from Philip Gulley's writings. He stated: what rests on a foundation is every bit as critical as the base itself. He drove home this thought so brilliantly and humbly to me.
He was sharing about a home their family lived in long ago. He said that the only thing this ole house had going for it was a 'strong foundation'. And, in light of this, it was not to be discounted but it was not enough. The boards were spongy-soft with rot. It was like pulling on five-dollar pants over hundred-dollar shoes. Oh, they thought they could just give it a face-lift with a coat of paint and it would be fine and look nice to everybody in the neighborhood. Nobody would really know what was going on in the inside. But, they were wrong. The foundation started to crumble and everybody that thought 'one thing' was so wrong in how 'things really were'.
Could this story be similar to the way circumstances and situations look in our lives and the people around us? We are human and it hurts when we strive everyday to do what is right and uphold our character, respect, honesty, perseverance and humility. We strive to raise our children to show respect and grow up into mature and responsible persons with dignity and the things that we feel and know is holy and right.
Perhaps, we are back to the measuring of the 'Foundation of our Soul' versus 'Our Human Side'. The purpose of such a measuring is not to provoke guilt, but rather to remind us of those treasures which never lose their value. (Philip Gulley)
We can find hope and value in stretching ourselves against this 'wall of our soul' for 'our spiritual fruit' and take our measure in an important exercise and one we can choose to continue. In our soul, we really know who, what and how things truly are going down and/or around. And, we need no flare and we can feel great freedom.
Yes, we have choices and they can make a difference. We can choose to show the world a beautiful surface of ourselves and do nothing and pretend to the world. In time, it will all be revealed and it will not stand. Or, we can choose to know we have a 'strong foundation' with character, responsibility, respect and keep maintaining each level of 'our being' everyday that will stand strong forever. We can choose to strive to live life on purpose for ourselves, for our family and community.
Do we love people for who they are? Or do we love them for who we think they ought to be? I feel a big problem in our world today is that we fall in love with images instead of persons. God forbid that our underwear should show, that our masks should slip.
As we continue on our journey, and we feel the swords of life hitting us in a way that we are not deserving of, may we always remember; 'forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness'. Corrie ten Boom
We can never fully enjoy the present if we'll bitter about the past. Instead of living in the past, make peace with it...and move on. We can never change anybody else. Nevertheless, we can stand firm in our 'foundation of the soul'. Than, we will surely know it will support and be enough from its' 'base itself' for whatever life brings to us.
Until next time
God Bless
Doris
