2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty”.

Today is Father’s Day. I want to personally use today’s post to thank my father for the love he has shown me over all the years of my life.

I grew up in a small country town as the last daughter of a country parson. For 45 years of my father’s ministry my family house was the church manse. It was on a hill, had the view of other hills all the way around and the view of the river as well. We grew up in a community that everyone knew everyone. By the time I was old enough to read I knew all the words to songs like O perfect love which was sung at every wedding and the Lord my shepherd sung to the tune of the happy wanderer at every funeral. We attended rallies, harvest festivals and concerts not only at our church but others in the community. On holidays we got the special treat of going to believers day at different churches where it would be a day of testimonies, preaching and lots of food. As children our food was special. Daddy ensured that going to church was a part of us as natural as breathing even when we protested.

My Daddy not only preached but was an excellent baker. This meant that the house always had some sweet treats:buns, totos, sweet potato puddings, breads to name a few. As children we had to wash, dry and grease the pans but we were also his official tasters yum yum. People would come from far and wide just to collect theirs. My mom was famous for giving away everything knowing that Daddy could bake more. Daddy’s saltfish fritters on Sunday morning was something else and his cooking was simply the best. Daddy poured his love for us in his cooking and baking.

Going to the sea with Daddy was our absolute favorite thing to do. As kids for one week per year we had a seaside vacation spending many hours in the water watching sunrises and sunsets. We also saw how God performed miracles and provided for us on days when funds were low or nonexistent. To this day, jumping waves at the beach brings back memories of those times with my Dad and a lot of joy. Dad loved us so much and was not short of showing his love for us in public and private. Daddy was very busy but he ensured that he spent time with us as children loving us every step of the way.

My father taught me to read from his King James Bible starting me off with little words like ‘and’ and ‘the’ until I graduated to bigger words. I remember how on Sunday mornings we would listen together Great Christian hymns of our time, have family devotions where we learned to pray and read and then had breakfast and went to church after. Daddy wasn’t afraid to lay down the principles that guided us as a family.

Now that Daddy is fighting each day with dementia and the other battles where the arm of flesh has failed him, I thank my Heavenly Father for taking care of Daddy in ways that I cannot. I know God in Jesus has got his back and will keep on keeping him. Happy Father’s Day Daddy Peter. I love you!

Father thank you for Daddies and for your tender love and care to us and them.

In Jesus name Amen