Friends
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers and grandfathers out there! Special thanks to those men who have stood as father figures for those who needed positive male role models. It is a true blessing to have godly men in our lives, men we can look up to, men we can turn to for sage advice.
I am exceedingly grateful for the blessing of a faithful father. He has been so faithful to love, nurture, and mentor me all my life. His faith in God has been a living testimony throughout the years. I have learned countless Biblical truths from his wise teaching. I have learned even more about faith from watching him handle the adversities of life. He has encouraged, educated, and disciplined me. He has inspired me to chase my dreams. He has wiped away my tears and made me laugh. He has been there for the tough times and the happy times too. Oh, what fun we have had together! Thank you, Daddy, for all the love over all the years!
As I contemplated what to write in honor of our fathers and grandfathers today, this story from my book, “Rough Places Smooth: Moments In A Journey Through Blindness” came to mind. With its message of faith, hope, and love, it seems a fitting story to share as we remember and honor the special men in our lives.
+++
“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
2 Timothy 1:12 – NIV
Fatherly Faith
My Dad and I have always been close. I was a Daddy’s girl, and he was my hero. He still is.
My father is a wise man, invariably full of good counsel. He listens well and is deeply thoughtful in his advice. I value hearing his perspective on things before I make a major decision. I love to have deep discussions with him about life. He has taught me so much.
This disease hit my parents hard. It has always pained them to think of the genetic link of this disease, no matter my reassurances that I never give that a second thought. Their self-imposed guilt has been a burden for them both.
One sunny afternoon, Dad and I found ourselves alone in his home office. Dad turned to me with a kind smile and an intent look in his clear, gorgeous blue eyes. “How are you doing, doll?”
“Doll” has been one of his pet names for me since childhood. I knew by his look and the tone of his voice, he wanted a straight answer. No sugar coating was expected.
“I’m OK, Dad. It’s just so hard. I hate not driving. Sometimes I just don’t know how we will manage it all.”
He was silent for a moment. Shrugging his shoulders, he put praying hands to his lips in a gesture that was so classic Daddy. “I know. I know, doll. I know it’s hard. But I really think that one of these days, there will be something for this. I really think there will be a cure for this someday. I just feel like it will all work out.”
I remember sitting there taking in those words. My spirits rose as I felt their impact, because deep in my spirit, I felt a tiny flicker of hope.
Perhaps somehow, some way, it would work out. I had no idea how, but his words had held hope, and I wanted so much to hang onto that hope.
Would my sight be restored? Would there be some new treatment to stop the disease progression? Perhaps I would just learn to adapt to the vision loss. Whatever the answer, I wanted to believe it would work out.
I had faith in my Daddy’s wisdom. Dad has always had great faith in God. I just needed to trust them both.
-APS, from “RoughPlaces Smooth: moments In A Journey Through Blindness”*
PS: In this memory of an afternoon more than 25 years ago, my father shared his hope and conviction that one day there would be help for me to cope with this degenerative retinal disease. Isn’t it amazing that Dad was predicting a miracle, and today, I hold my tiny scanner device, Orcam My Eye 2, in the palm of my hand? It’s a little miracle of technology that is making a huge difference in my life! Isn’t our God good? Dad, once again, you were right!
+++
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 – NIV
PRAYER
O Heavenly Father, how gloriously good You are to us! Your love never fails. It never runs dry. Thank You for the fine, godly men You have placed in our lives. Thank You for all the ways they lead, nurture, protect, encourage, and inspire us. Thank You for the little miracles You bestow on us each day. Give us eyes to see them, and grateful hearts that give You all the glory.
In the Glorious Name Of Jesus, we give our thanks and praise,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
*Excerpt from Chapter 10 Hazards and Detours in “Rough Places Smooth: Moments In A Journey Through Blindness”
© 2022 by Anita Peden Sherer
All Rights Reserved.
-APS 6/19/2023
Faith Beyond Sight 