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Still Your Birthday

Honor your father and mother - which is the first commandment with a promise - so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.  (Ephesians 6:2-3)

It’s been 12 years since I last celebrated my Dad’s birthday.  As my family nestled into a hospice room to sing happy birthday to him that June 8th, I knew time was short.  I remember all the fears I had of leaving things unsaid, especially those of a spiritual importance.  In one of our conversations that day, my Dad talked about how quickly life goes and urged Dee and I not to waste any of that time, but to fill it with love. 

Later that weekend to my surprise, he asked me to bring the bible.  I went home to get it, rushed back, and prayed for the Lord’s guidance to help me find the most meaningful scriptures to share with my Dad.  After a while, I finally worked up the nerve to ask him if he knew where he was going. As he pointed to the sky, I assured him that if he had put his faith and trust in Jesus he can have full assurance of his eternal home with the Lord.

Almost a month to the day later my Dad was gone.  The years since have flown by just as quickly as my Dad said they would.  Since then as the calendar has approached June 8th, there were times I wished I had the power to flip the page directly to June 9th from June 7th.  But this year, in what would have been a big milestone birthday, I’ve decided the time has come to celebrate his birthday once again.  So even though I’ve been desperately trying to avoid carbs of late, I’m going pick up an ice cream cake, lift up a prayer of thanksgiving, and then enjoy a giant piece in honor of a giant of a man I was so blessed to call Dad.

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