To All Our Fathers

Being a father is a vocation. It is a calling and it comes, in a certain way, with many surprises. First of all, there is nothing - and I mean nothing - like a nurse handing you a beautiful baby. Wow!, this little thing, so small, vulnerable, dependent, and helpless! Then you realize this little thing has tremendous power to control almost every aspect of your life. Your world is centered around them when you hold them in your arms, drive them to school, take them to games. Later, even when they have their own children, you realize the vocation doesn't end, it continues your whole life.

This Sunday is Father's Day, and I am flooded with many memories of diaper changes, playhouses, sandboxes, swimming pools, vacations, homework assignments, graduations, endless expenses - the list goes on.  But - it is a privilege, and when you are living through it, you don't always realize it. When I play with little Madelyn or bigger Marius I am reminded of a kaleidoscope of memories that has helped me get to this point in my life, with a feeling of overwhelming gratitude.

Happy Father's Day. Thank you, Lord.