Happy Father's Day

Fathers, do not exasperate your children;

 instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4

Today is Father's Day - a day set aside to honor birth fathers, step-fathers, adopted fathers, and mentor fathers.  I have no idea who my birth father is, other than a name on a scrap of paper.  I don't mean my birth certificate - it actually lists my adoptive parents as my birth parents.  I literally have a piece of scratch paper with my birth father's name scribbled in pencil. 

 

I was adopted when I was 3 days old.  My parents told me stories about being adopted long before I could possibly understand what they were saying, so the knowledge that I was chosen by them was second nature to me.  I never gave much thought to my birth father; the man who adopted me is the only dad I have ever known.  He was a great playmate in my childhood, the favorite parent to argue with in my youth, and the steadfast rock of my world as an adult.

 

My father passed away in February of 2006 at the age of 92.  I have missed him every day since.  He was full of wit and wisdom - a man who let his character speak for itself, and a great storyteller if you could get him to sit down for a minute to chat.  He was always up and at it, going somewhere, doing something.  I admired him, I respected him, and I adored him with every fiber of my being.  

 

I love you, Dad.