I once had a conversation at school with a first grade student. It was snack time, and, as she saw me approaching the eating area, the student called out to me:
“Mrs. McDavid, Mrs. McDavid!” Olivia’s hand was up and signaling for me to join her.
I walked over to her table and sat down. “What’s up?”
“Did you know that before, if we were at a school with all black people or a school with all white people, I couldn’t sit with you?”
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We do not want,
should not expect,
and will never have
perfect fathers.
∞
All we want is for them
to make their God-given responsibilities a priority:
to teach, guide,
protect, provide for,
and love in His ways
the children He has given to them.
∞
I do not think that is too much for a child to ask.
I do think that is too much for a father to carry
on his own.
∞
God’s plan is a wife; she, his treasured helper.
But the great submission of man
is to yield to and depend on
the Heavenly Father.
∞
A father will never be perfect,
but he can look to the One who is.
∞
Too often, a father will finally bend
when the sweat of death lies on his brow.
I saw my father’s release at that divine exchange:
too late for a child
but a gift tearfully received
by a long-suffering me.
∞
We don’t want perfect fathers.
We only want them.
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger,
but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
(Father’s Day is celebrated in the United States every year on the third Sunday of June.)
The United States celebrates Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May. That’s this weekend, and it’s a perfect theme for this month’s Story of the Month.
While researching the Great Depression (1929-1940) for one of my stories, I found this photo and it is an amazing one. The joy this woman shows, despite her poverty, is the perfect picture of motherly love.
Inspired by the photo, I imagined myself sitting with this woman to learn about her typical day.
∞
I was sweeping the front sidewalk when three boys approached me.
“Hi! Would you like to buy a cookie to support Frank?”
Who??
They presented their “Support Frank” flyer. No misspelled words. Good grammar. Neat handwriting. And the boys were so polite and well versed as they told me about Frank and his dire circumstances. They even had a bowl of cookie bites for me to sample before buying. Genius!
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Darla McDavid 