Happy Mother's Day, Dad!

Rory Feek is a singer/songwriter who lives in the Nashville area.   If you are a country music fan, you may have seen him perform or heard one of his songs on the radio.   He is also an author.  I recently listened to the reading of his book Once Upon a Farm.  Rory shares in the book that there was a time in his life when he was a single parent.    As Mother’s Day approached, one of his daughters made him a Mother’s Day card where they said “Happy Mother’s Day, Dad”.   

I can relate to that story as there was a season of my life when I was a single parent to two daughters in the house.    It was a challenging time in many ways.    For example,  I recall taking my daughter, Ginger, to a department store because it had come that time in her life when she needed to be wearing a bra.   I felt about as out of place helping my daughter buy a bra as perhaps a cat would feel at a dog show. 

I share a bit of the story of Rory Feek and my own story to not solicit sympathy for either myself or Rory Feek, but to offer a salute to the many persons who find themselves as mothers or fathers for a season of their life  who did not ask for the job of parenting at all or who are parenting all by themselves.  I think, today, of the Grandparents raising grandchildren… the single parent who lost a spouse through sickness, tragedy, or  divorce… the spouse left behind while their husband or wife is deployed with our nation’s military.     

One of the unsung heroes to me in the gospels is Joseph, the husband to Mary and the step-father of Jesus.   While we hear about Mary nearby when Jesus was crucified, we hear nothing about Joseph.    Biblical scholars believe that Joseph was much older than Mary and that he died between the time Jesus was 12 years old and the time that Jesus began his ministry.    I wonder if perhaps the reason why Jesus waited till his early 30’s to begin his ministry was partly so he could help take care of his mother since Joseph had died. 

 Fathers Day is approaching soon and Mother’s Day is a recent memory.   I know  people approach Father’s Day and Mother’s Day with differing feelings.   Some have fond memories of their parents and good relationships with their children.  Others feel differently.  If you are a parent raising children not your own or you are a parent raising children right now all by yourself, I salute you and give thanks for you.   Perhaps Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, would understand your circumstance.  Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall   

Prayer:   O God, who we call Father:   we give you thanks for your love that never lets us go.   We pray for those in these days who face the challenging job of parenting.   Give them the strength of your Spirit to be fathers and mothers you would have them to be;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.