April 17, 2020 “The Day My Father Cried” Ephesians 6:1-3
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina…
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3 When, I was younger, I thought that boys and grown men shouldn’t cry, much less show that they can be reduced to tears. The tears were signs of being weak and a sissy, which a man isn’t supposed to be, supposedly. But in January of 1969, I discovered that courage isn’t all about trying to keep all the pain inside in check. Courage isn’t all about trying to hide the tears. It’s the opposite – the tears reinforce the heart’s courage. I saw this in my father.
My Grandfather, that had been abusive to my Grandmother, and to his children, and because of his destructive actions, my Daddy and his baby sister where placed in the Baptist Orphanage at Kennedy Home near LaGrange, on January 5th, died alone. When the call came in that Granddaddy had died, my Daddy did what he would always do in a crisis, he started taking care of the arrangements, along with his brothers and sisters.
The day came for the funeral and we sat in the church, side by side, with other family members and I kept my eyes on Daddy. His face was firm and stone-like and his focus was on the casket, not the minister or the music. I could only imagine what he was thinking. Regardless of the past circumstances, Daddy and Mama always opened our home to Granddaddy when he was in need. I used to wonder why Daddy was so willing to do this, when his Daddy had been such a terrible example of fatherhood.
We left the church and made the long walk to the family plot in the Daly’s Chapel Church Cemetery. The wind had a January chill and the minister was a bit long-winded and there was the noise of a farm tractor in the distance, yet I was focused on my Daddy. It could not be! My Daddy was crying! How could he cry for this man? What could he possibly be thinking?
On the way back to my Uncle’s house, where our family was gathering, I mustered up the courage to ask him why he had cried at the graveside. He responded, in a gentle and comforting voice, “Son, regardless of how he acted or treated me, because I am a Child of God, I must honor my father!” I said, “Daddy, but…”he interrupted and said firmly, “No buts!” I reached up and placed my 12 year old hand on his shoulder and he reached back and covered my hand with his, and he said something that will remain with me forever. He said, that the week before, he had stopped by to visit his daddy, and they had a serious talk about the past, and about forgiveness, and about his soul’s condition, and Daddy led his Daddy to receive Jesus, that day.
It has been years since I have laid my hand on my Father’s shoulder, but the lesson that he taught me that day and the lessons from all of the days before and up until his passing, remain with me today. I saw his courage, that day when my father cried. I saw his strength when my hand was on his shoulder, and I understood his pain, and his joy, and the reason for his obedience. We are called to be obedient, regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what we see! He promised, I believe and I am counting on His Grace! Stay Strong, Stay Focused… Remember…”THE BEST IS YET TO BE!”