Happy Father’s Day!

I called my parents sometime between midnight and 2 a.m. on November 1, 1986, to let them know they were grandparents once again, and that there was finally a female in the Woodward family. My dad answered the phone, and the one thing I remember him saying is, “Isn’t it wonderful being a dad?” While I only had the title for a couple of hours at that point, I had to agree that yes, it is wonderful being a dad. And over 33 years later, I can still say that with certainty and joy.

My dad was a man of few words. His greatest fear when he got married was what he and his wife would talk about for the next 50 years! 

My dad loved a good joke, but he was never good at telling one. He loved practical jokes. He was the head usher at the church we attended for the month of January. One year when January 1 fell on a Sunday, he thought it would be fun to pull a joke on the pastor. One of his tasks as head usher was to put a water glass in the pulpit for the pastor. He did that, and in honor of New Year’s Day, he also added two olives to the drink! 

Another Sunday, April 1, he encouraged everyone in the church to sit on the opposite side of the church than they usually sat. It wasn’t until half-way through the sermon that the pastor noticed.

Dad wasn’t perfect. None of us are. But God gives us parents for a reason. These are the humans that are charged with the calling of raising a child, caring for the child, and teaching the child. The role of teacher has become even more evident these past few months for parents who are at home with their kids 24/7. God bless you all! 

Yes, I know there are bad dads. There are dads that have abandoned or hurt their kids. Some dads are lessons in what is the wrong way to parent instead of the right way. 

But there are good dads, too. And there are dads who are trying to do what is right — saints and sinners at the same time, as Luther would remind us. 

I hope and pray you have memories you can honor today.

One of the ways my kids honored me over 25 years ago was by giving me this t-shirt. I wear it with great pride once a year. Can you relate? 

Happy Father’s Day!

Let us pray:

Genesis 21:8