A Father's Gift

Every person's life is a story written by God's hand...


The little girl presses her nose against the cold glass of the kitchen window.  Her father stands - bundled against the cold, dark of a snowy winter night - garden hose in hand.  She watches as frigid water sprays across the ice skating rink he is forming in the backyard.  Cold droplets sparkle in the light spilling through the window.  He turns to smile at her. She can hardly wait to pull on her brand new skates in the morning.

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Because, when all is said and done,

Only three things remain.

Faith.

Hope.

Love.

And the greatest of these is Love.

And when we have that, we have Everything.

Thank you for loving me so much.

~  ♥  ~

Hopping down the stairs, the young girl follows her father to the cool basement.  They make their way to his workroom.  A small window spilling summer sunshine onto the worn wood table littered with tools, nails, and pieces of wood.  He sets out four small pieces of wood as she steps onto a small stool next to him.  His hands lay out the frame they are making for a three-dimensional picture she has created with tiny scissors and glue. Their heads bend together over their project, and she begins to learn.

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"Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands." ~ 1 Thessalonians.4:11

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Thank you for teaching me how to work with my hands.

~  ♥  ~

The father pushes the old rotary lawnmower across the green lawn. Springtime lilacs hang heavy on the big bush nearby. The young girl runs up to him, asking if he would teach her how to mow. “Mom says I’m big enough now!”  Big hands cover small hands as he helps her push the mower making neat, green stripes across the sun dappled grass. Her smile meets his as she looks up at him.

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"When I admire the wonders of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in the worship of the creator". ~~ Mohandas Gandhi

Thank you for instilling in me the love of nature and satisfaction of outdoor chores.

~  ♥ ~

The air is crisp. Leaves on the trees throwing yellow, orange, and red to the sun warmed ground. The family is searching for the perfect pumpkin for their front porch.  The strong, sweet fragrance of fresh picked apples greets them as they make their way between long tables of bright yellow squash, lumpy gourds, and piles of bright orange pumpkins. The father spots a table of nuts and dips a metal scoop deep into the mound of walnuts, pouring them into a small paper bag. They choose a variety of nuts and move on to select their pumpkin. Back at home, the family gathers around the kitchen table.  Loud crunching smiles fill the room. The little girl’s favorites are the salty ones. Her father shows her how to crack walnuts.

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

-Galatians 5:22-23

Thank you for sweet, simple family times together.

~  ♥  ~

The little girl watches as her father sits before the canvas on the small easel in front of him.  The scent of acrylic paint is strong.  His brush dips lightly into a deep green and after a few swipes and tugs, a graceful, stoic pine tree appears before her eyes.  Mountains of blue and purple form a majestic backdrop.  A sparkling, crooked stream winds around the trees. She wishes she could paint like that. She is proud of her father for using this gift he’s been blessed with. 

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A few years later, she sits in her junior high art class with a blank sheet of artist’s paper before her and a sharpened pencil in hand.  Head bent, she begins to sketch the roses she sees in the photograph next to her. As the flowers take shape on the textured paper, she feels content that she inherited just a little of her father’s talent.  Her heart fills with happiness when she sees a big smile spread across her father’s face as he stands before her completed framed sketch...hanging on display in the local art gallery. 

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He has given you gifts, desires, talents, and inclinations.

Pursue them with gratitude and great joy.

They are God's gift to you.

Make them your gift to Him.

Even if no one understands.

If no one is impressed.

He is honored and pleased.

Thank you for using your gift to teach me the love of art. 

~  ♥  ~

A warm July night.  Stars bright overhead.  The moon shines down creating shadows of the family in their backyard.  The little girl stands before her parents as her father hands her an unlit sparkler.  She hears a reminder to “Be careful now…” as he lights the tip and miniature stars spring and sizzle from the stick. She can see her parents smiling in the bright light. She waves the sparkler through the air making big circles, writing her name in cursive, and twirling around and around. Fireworks boom in the distance and create bright neon flowers in the sky.

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"Learning to delight in little things makes life rich. This strengthens us. As we enjoy these things, we begin to develop a self. And this unique self is a gift to others.

Thank you for teaching me to delight in simple, beautiful things.  Because of that, my life is richer - and more beautiful.

~  ♥  ~

The alley behind the garage is dusty gravel.  The little girl wheels her new purple two-wheel bicycle with the white wicker basket through the garage to her waiting father.  She settles onto the seat as her father holds the bike steady.  “Ready?”  She nods and remembers what her father told her yesterday. His hand is firm on the back of the leather seat as she begins to pedal.  He runs next to her holding her upright.  Their laughter fills the air. Her hair flies behind her. She feels him let go and her legs pedal faster and faster as the bike speeds across the gravel. Houses blur. She turns to see her father grinning widely at her at the end of the alley.

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Many years later, the adult daughter smiles as she watches her father teach her mother how to maneuver a golf cart.  She catches and holds a memory of a purple bike and a gravel alley in her mind. Moments later, laughter rings out as her parents fly across the yard with a streak of blue. Complete joy awash on their faces.

Smile, inside and out.

Laugh heartily and often.

It's contagious and brings good health.

Choose to enjoy each day.

It is a gift.

Thank you for your patience - and your quick laughter. 

~  ♥  ~

The adult daughter sits at the foot of the hospital bed and watches her parents together. Her father's concerned blue eyes gaze deeply into her mother’s tired, green eyes. He holds her hands and whispers to her lovingly and encouragingly.  He has been in this same place many times. He prays again for her be strong. He prays again for healing. Tears fills the daughter’s eyes as she lowers her head with her own prayer.  Love fills the room.  God is present.  Angels are in attendance. Prayers are heard above.

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Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

~ Philippians 4:6-7

Thank you for your prayerful heart and your strong faith…in all circumstances.

~  ♥  ~

I love you, Dad.  I love you for helping me to be the person I am today, and for loving me through all of the ups and downs, through good decisions and bad.  I love you for having the most giving heart and soul I’ve ever known. You embrace and live out 2 Corinthians 5:14 which says, “Christ’s love has moved me to such extremes.  His love has the first and last word in everything I do.” I see Christ in you, Dad.  You are truly living in Him...

and I love you so very much for that.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad.


With all my love forever ~

[I will be giving this to my Dad for Father's Day.]

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A Daughter's Love

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The little girl with the blonde braids and pink flowered bathing suit holds her mother’s hand on one side and her father’s hand on the other as she is lifted above the waves as they roll onto the shore.  She squeals in delight as her toes skim the top of the frothy blue water. Their laughter fills the summer air.

Later, as the sun lowers into the deep blue lake, her head lowers as she peers into the Coke bottle filled with orange ladybugs she’s collected that day.  She smiles up into the loving face of her mother who shepherds her toward the big old cottage surrounded by dune grass and tall pines.  She looks forward to climbing into the big, brass bed and snuggling under piles of colorful handmade quilts as the rolling waves lullaby her to sleep.

I am so grateful for beautiful summers spent at the cottage with you and Dad. Because of those long, sparkling, sun-filled days, I embrace my love of being by the water.

~  ♥  ~

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The young girl walks toward the library on a late spring day after school to meet her mother to walk together the short distance home for dinner.  She enters the cool, quiet building that has the distinct smell of books, paper, and ink, and sinks into a big leather chair with the book her mother had picked out for her.  As her eyes dance across the words, she is transported to another world. She looks up to see her mother watching her through the glass window of the office, and smiles.

I am so grateful for the love of the written word you instilled in me through the books you chose for me as a child.

~  ♥  ~

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The young girl sits at the piano, chin quivering and smile turned upside down.  Practice is not in her plans for the day, but the mother gazes sternly at her and points at the keys.  She begrudgingly starts plunking out the notes to the song.  The mother peeks around the corner and nods her head, smiling. Thirty minutes later, frown long gone, fingers flying across the keys…the music has captured the daughter's soul as her mother hums along in the kitchen.

I am so grateful for the piano lessons you gave me which taught me the love of music.

~  ♥  ~

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The small girl in the shorts and tee shirt follows the mother out the door and together they walk into the back yard.  Strung from the house to the garage is a long, white clothesline that crosses in front of a large, fragrant, purple lilac bush. The mother sets the laundry basket down and hangs up the clothespin bag, dropping a couple weathered clothespins into her daughter’s open hands.  She pulls down the line as the daughter’s tiny feet arch up onto toes and she clips the pillow slip onto the line, her mother’s hands guiding. Sun warm on their heads as the clothesline fills with sweet smelling linens.

I am so grateful for sweet, simple times spent with you.

~  ♥  ~

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The young girl stands at the kitchen counter between the mother and grandmother.  All three wearing aprons. All three smiling and laughing. The grandmother shows the young girl the easiest and fastest way to slice apples.  The mother bustles about the kitchen preparing canning jars and stirring the spicy, bubbling applesauce mixture on the stove.  It’s a time of learning for the young girl.  A time of teaching for the mother and grandmother.  A time of bonding for all three. Three generations of love standing shoulder to shoulder.

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Many years later, the adult daughter stands at the kitchen counter next to her mother.  They both wear aprons.  The mother hands each ingredient to the daughter.  The spices are shaken into the zucchini mixture in the big ironstone bowl.  The daughter asks a question that makes the mother smile and their heads touch in laughter.  Loving memories of the grandmother need not be spoken. They are there. The room is filled with the smell of fresh, warm zucchini bread.

I am so grateful for the life lessons you taught me throughout the years.

 ~  ♥  ~

Mother's Day - 2008

The mother and daughter sit hip to hip in the golf cart. Daughter encouraging her mother in the driver's seat.  The mother's eyesight at only a sliver of what it used be before radiation treatments years before.  Nerves jangle, and anxious laughter fills the air. Her foot presses down tentatively on the pedal and the cart jumps forward.  More nervous laughter erupts as family members clap and encourage.  Hair soon blows in the wind as the mother realizes that she can do this as the cart flies across the yard. The daughter's heart is filled with happiness at the joy she sees on her mother's face.

I am so grateful for your courage and willingness to try new things, but most of all ~ your sweet laughter.

~  ♥  ~

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The daughter stands at the foot of the hospital bed.  The mother lays amidst the crisp, white sheets, complexion pale, eyes tired.  She lays a hand on the aged hand and strokes it lightly.  Prayers whispered quietly to the angels attending. So many times spent like this.  So many times leaving stronger.  So many gifts of healing from God over the years. So many answered prayers.

I am so grateful for your continued strength and determination ~ a true testament of the faith and trust that you have in our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                

~  ♥  ~

September 2011

The mother grasps the daughter’s arm as they make their way into the restaurant while the father parks the car.  Rich Asian smells drift from the open door. Walking slowly, arm in arm, shoulders touching.  The daughter feels the shaking warmth of her mother’s hand as she covers it with her own.  Memories of holding hands and jumping waves stir inside her soul. Memories of lilac scented laundry, hospital rooms, applesauce, zucchini bread, and piano music wrap themselves softly around her heart. She silently prays that her mother will never let go of her hand.

Because she loves her so very much…

                                   and still needs her...


                                         to help her jump more waves.

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I love you beyond words, Mom. 


Happy Mother's Day ~

♥  [I created a booklet of these memories to give to my Mom for Mother's Day.  Because of her recent Alzheimer's diagnosis, I wanted to give her something to help her remember the cherished times that we spent together in the past. It will be something that she can look at from time to time...and remember how very much I love her.]

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