By Karen O’Connor:
What words of wisdom have you heard from your father that you will always remember?
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
My husband Charles loves to share the story of the day he stood on the platform at the railroad station in his hometown before boarding the train for college hundreds of miles away. Little did he know at the time that he’d find God in words of wisdom from Dad.
“I was seventeen at the time and Dad had driven me early that morning so we’d have a chance to say a proper good-bye.”
Within moments, as if on cue, they heard the train “whistling over the river trestle and coming up through the glade some mile and a half down the track. It was then that Dad turned toward me,” said Charles, “and took my hand.”
Charles knew he was about to hear something important.
“You know, Son, the years pass quickly. Yesterday you were a baby and today you’re a young man. There seems to be so many things we need to talk about, and now there isn’t any time left.”
He paused.
“Life is full of pain and suffering. I wish I could live that part for you. But that would cheat you of your own quest.” He embraced his boy. “Stand tall, son, stand on my shoulders and reach for the stars. Reach for all those things I couldn’t.”
Charles’s voice cracked with emotion as he thanked his father for everything and then held him in a tight hug before walking up the steps into the train.
Even now, more than half a century later, Charles weeps when he talks about that time. “Those words have stood as a beacon in my life. On many a dark night I have leaned on what I saw in my father and hoped to find in myself.”
To this day I watch Charles continuing to find God in the words of wisdom from his earthly father and even more from his heavenly father. “He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths” (Isaiah 2:3 the Bible).
©Karen O’Connor. Karen is a multi-book author, writing mentor, and frequent contributor to the FindingGod blog. Visit Karen on the web at www.karenoconnor.com.
Enjoy this lovely Father’s Day video from YouTube produced by Sharefaith (@sharefaith, on Twitter) with music by Willem van Wyk.
Can you share with us any words of wisdom you read, or heard, from your own father?
Karen this story about Charles and his dad has touched my heart deeply. Please tell Charles that this inspires me to love and appreciate my own father even more. He’s 90 years of age now. God bless you both. Thank you Karen for always writing from your heart.