Fathers are complicated
Daddy standing, at right. Wasn’t he handsome? I’m in the terrible coke-bottle glasses on the left, with my sister, Karen, and my mother, Virginia. This photo was taken sometime around 1972.I received this email from my church a few weeks ago:
“Good afternoon!
“We are so honored that you’ll be joining us this Sunday for the Father’s Day video shoot. Your reflections and stories will be a deeply meaningful part of our weekend service, as we take time to celebrate and honor the fathers and father figures who have shaped our lives and communities.”
When asked to share about my daddy, I was so honored. I said yes, immediately. To help me prepare, the video coordinator shared questions they would be asking during the shoot:
Looking back, what’s one of the most important lessons your father or father figure taught you?
How did your father influence the person you are today?
What advice from your dad do you still live by?
What is one memory of your father that you hold most dear?
How would you describe your father’s impact on your family and community?
All these questions were important, and I answered them all. But when I saw the final video of me, they used question number one.
Here is what I said (you can stop the video after my answer):
My father has been gone for nearly 20 years now, but I can see him in my mind’s eye like it was yesterday. Like I said in the video, he was complicated, and my parents’ marriage wasn’t perfect — whose is? — but I learned love, loyalty and determination from them. They almost made it to 50 years but my mother died a few years short of that. What a celebration that would have been! I love you, mommy and daddy.
Your sister in Christ,
Support the ministry!Yvette Walker is a journalist, educator, and the founder of Positively Joy Ministries. Her ministry supports this blog, a podcast, publishing her many books and opportunities to share the message of joy.
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