We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
My heart beamed Friday night as my sons welcomed the Sabbath with perfectly sung prayers.My heart broke Saturday night as my sons fought while I grilled a perfect wild-caught salmon, and I got indigestion instead of the meal I thought I deserved.
I'm reminded of the saying, "A Man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season." And, the growing goes both ways as we fathers grow, have to grow -- into the men we want to be under our children's careful observation, into the men that they need.
We yearn to please but, most important, to pass on life's lessons.
Father's Day is full of platitudes and real feelings, of missed and appreciated opportunities. And, of how much we care by just being there. I'm reminded of GeorgeStrait's "A Father's Love", of Conway Twitty's "That's My Job", of Rascal Flatt's "My Wish."True, heartfelt, and missing the tougher choices we have to make and impose to make as sure as we can that our children grow into responsible, resilient and caring adults.
There's a wisecrack, "If God is so perfect, how do you explain us."As fathers, we're not perfect, but we try to find and know the ways to be better, and most of us find it. We continue to strive, and so may our children, with a higher hand to reach for and give us the strength to be better and have hope.
Good one Bruce! & Thanks, this has been enjoyed this morning by those aspiring towards what you desire from yourself. "Keep Your Eyes on the Fig Tree."
SHALOM says: Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.
#4
Not a Salty Mariner
on
2010-06-20 11:25
(Reply)
Bruce ... What a beautiful essay on fatherhood... always aspiring, always achieving, always better than one's modesty thinks one is.
A Happy Father's Day to you, and to all the other good fathers at maggiesfarm.
Thank You, LORD Jesus fer declaring Our Heavenly Father to all world's inhabitants, especially to them who believe.
For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 1:17-18
Again therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying: I am the light of the world: he that followeth me, walketh not in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
The Pharisees therefore said to him: Thou givest testimony of thyself: thy testimony is not true.
Jesus answered, and said to them: Although I give testimony of myself, my testimony is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go: but you know not whence I come, or whither I go.
You judge according to the flesh: I judge not any man.
And if I do judge, my judgment is true: because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
And in your law it is written, that the testimony of two men is true.
I am one that give testimony of myself: and the Father that sent me giveth testimony of me.
They said therefore to him: Where is thy Father? Jesus answered: Neither me do you know, nor my Father: if you did know me, perhaps you would know my Father also.
These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple: and no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.
John 8:12-20
My husband's tradition is to treat his daughters, sons in law, and grandbrats to brunch at a local pub for Father's Day. Which we did today. One daughter not available as off on a lecture series, but everyone else present. It was great. Given we request a rather secluded section up a few stairs, we are somewhat isolated from the others; that is a good thing. A really great time together, and afterwards there is an opportunity of the sons in law to visit their parent.
