My Dad Never Quit On Me!
My Dad has been gone for over ten years now but rarely does a day go by that I don’t think about him. There were many wonderful qualities about my Dad and I feel extremely fortunate to have been his son. His name was also Clifford as that is my name, my son’s name, and his son’s name. When I was a kid I wasn’t sure that I even liked that name but now I wear it with great pride because it originated from a Father that I deeply respect and love.
As I think about what draws my heart closest to my Dad it would have to be the constant feeling of security that I always felt with him. I remember as a child we would be coming home on a Friday night after going to the Drive-in theator to see a scary movie and all I could think about was "My Dad can protect me from anything." In all the years that he was living I can not think of one single incident where he ever made me feel abandoned. On the contrary, I knew as long as he lived that no matter what trouble might come my way he would always be there to do everything in his power to get me through it.
I could go on and on with stories of my Father and his dedication to his family and friends but the real point I want to make is that all my Father was doing in making me feel secure was something that did not originate with him. He was simply acting on something that was in his heart from creation and it is called the LOVE OF GOD. I would not call my Dad religious, and as a matter of fact he didn’t even attend church, but understood this divine love better then most christians that I have know, and I will always be grateful that he gave me such a wonderful example of a love that never quits. I am reminded of that kind of love when I read the 15th chaptor of Luke where Jesus gives us three stories that teach us God will never quit on us. Let me quote just three scriptures from that chaptor that speak to this:
Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Luke 15:8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
When you read the underlined words above you see a picture that Jesus wanted us to see that no matter how lost someone may seem to be God will not stop until that person is found again. God does not hope to find us, or even just wish that we might be found, no, He makes it clear that even when we are a GREAT WAY OFF He sees us and has compassion. I encourage all of you reading this to go back and read that entire chaptor and then reflect on the idea that all of us have a Father that we can count on and that will not let any of us down.
My Dad never quit on me and I have the same confidence in the Father that Christ revealed to me. I am just as sure that He will never quit on me, nor will He quit on any of you.
Happy Fathers Day to ALL!
And a happy fathers day to you my friend cliff.When you wrote this cliff it reminded me also that there are those children who have not got a father in their lives.Today this is happing all over the world as it did in days gone by.but it seems to be getting worst.Oh how thankful we should be to have loving parents who have stood by us through our lives,and been there for us.
To those children today i say,although you have not got a father here on earth to support you through your life.You have indeed a heavenly father who loves you and has promised never to leave you nor forsake you.Who has provided everything you need for life and godliness in his beloved son jesus christ.He wants you to know and feel the warmth of his love for you.He has provided this knowledge of his love for you through the Gospel of grace and peace.He wants you to know that you have been fully accepted by him as his beloved son and daughter in christ.Yes he wants you to know as Paul said in romans chapter 8,.v38-39 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He wants you to be fully persuaded in your mind and hear also that you are his child and nothing you have done or will do can change that.So be comforted in your hear and mind that you also have a father who loves you unconditionally.
God our father wants us to enjoy him forever so when fathers day comes along know this that Fathers day is not for a day but for all eternity.
Happy Fathers Day to all his creation.
kenneth.
Happy Father’s Day to you, my brother….
That was wonderful Cliff, thank you for sharing this.
Your father sounds like an excellent example of our Father. You were fortunate to have him Cliff and your children are fortunate to have you. Happy Fathers Day and a joyous salute to our heavenly Father.
BTW, what a great week it has been to spend the entire week leading up to Fathers Day with all of my children and grandchildren……and at Myrtle Beach too.
Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. I look foward to the day that every single human being will realize that they have always had a loving Father.
Hey Steve, Glad to hear you’re having a great vacation.
Steve you are a lucky duck.he he!great to see you having a good rest?
kenneth
Sounds like quite a dad Cliff, and by what you’ve shared here nothing more can be added. You instantly made me think of my own dad, I as well lost him just about 9 years ago now. One thing you said is a most important thing I believe and that is feeling secure.This is huge in a child and young persons life. As a matter of fact it came to me just the other day as fathers day was coming up that our new addition ( Anastacia) would feel secure in our home and with us as her parents. It is something that alluded her from the beginning I’m sure, but now she can know that she is truly loved and secure.
Happy Fathers day to you my friend and all the rest of you Dad’s out there.
“Our Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Family Tree . . . .” (Thy Name, our inheritance)
Selah
Well said Randy and Wes.
Hi Cliff! I miss my dad, too, and yours, as well. Uncle Joe, too. We were blessed indeed in our fathers. Hope you have a wonderful Father’s Day! Love always.
Hey Connie,
You are so right!!!! We did have great Dads. I can still picture your Dad’s kind and gentle face. He had a smile that would melt the hardest heart. I love you too and think about you and the family often.