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The Other Half The Other Half
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I am really looking forward to the coming weekend as we are going to Cardiff to celebrate my father’s 90th birthday. We will have a party for family and friends at the Golf club and the invitation list was longer than that for his 80th birthday party! He is often away at this time of year – on a rugby trip – but that has been delayed for a week so that we, the family, could celebrate with him in style. As the elder daughter I will have the honour of proposing his heath and so (even while writing this) I am thinking about him and all I want to say. I often speak about him when giving a talk and find many examples in his life which help me to appreciate the ability to love. Through him I have learnt that everyone is equal. He taught us that honesty and integrity are extremely important – even at a cost to ourselves. There has never been a problem that I could not share with him – never a moment when I felt unable to confide in him. He always says, “there is nothing you cannot do” – giving me confidence in myself and an expectancy of success in any new venture. His positive attitude to life and his ability to laugh at himself has endeared him to many and the number of his friends at the party are a testimony to that. Please don’t think that he’s perfection – that would really make him laugh! But he’s been a good father, one of the best. I hesitate to say “the best” as I’m sure I would get quite a few letters challenging that! Now he’s an excellent grandfather and great-grandfather and I hope, a practical role mode for the generation following. I know that I have been extremely blessed to have such a father and that, sadly, not everyone has the same experience. Please forgive my subjective writing this month – I can only say (in my defence) that because of my dad I can easily accept that our Father in heaven loves me completely – unconditionally. And that blessing is not just for me. That blessing is for all God’s children, whatever their “earthly father experience” has been. He is the One who truly transforms us, blesses and protects us. Maybe we should all take a moment to shout out “thank you”. To Him we can truly say “You are loved not only for what you do, but for who I am because of you.” This could be an eulogy at dad’s funeral – maybe I should keep it for that, hopefully in cold storage for a few years yet! On the other hand, why do we wait until someone dies before talking about how wonderful they were and what a difference they made in our lives? We need to tell those around us how important they are to us now. How things they have said have made us think: helped us to change; made our lives better. How much we love them. I think what I want to say to dad is “You may not be perfect, globally famous or fabulously rich but I will be forever grateful to God that he gave you to me for my father. Through you I have learnt important lessons, standards and priorities. You are a very special person and I am proud to be your daughter. Thank you for everything.” Sue Whitehead
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