Father's Day
It was the first weekend in June and I had been asked to speak at Trevecca Nazarene University's
What an absolute honor, to present my story at my alma mater…
with former professors in the audience…
(my beloved Children's Lit professor, Mrs. Sara Chilton, and just behind her,
Mrs. Lois Wolfgang, my advisor/mentor/friend through my studies in Medical Assisting)
The greatest honor, though, was to have my parents, there.
and my big sister..
Last winter, my dad had endured a turbulent season with his health.
We weren't completely confident he would survive the pneumonia, the MRSA, or the final diagnosis of malaria (They had traveled to Sierre Leone last fall)
There was his firstborn grand child, my oldest, Matthew…
who was expecting his firstborn child, Oliver.
This would be my Dad's first great grandchild.
We held out hope…we prayed…
and God was faithful.
On May 13th, in the wee hours of the morning,
Oliver made his entrance into the world.
I have never been so proud of my son..
I have never seen such love, such joy, such total adoration...
Until I saw this photo of my own dad, with his firstborn…my big sister…
alongside the photo of my Matthew with his firstborn.
Look at these two…
The resemblance is uncanny!
And here is my dad, smitten with his great grandson, being held in my mother's arms..
It was just yesterday she was holding my Matthew…
…and I was the new mommy…
and my grandaddy was holding his first great grandchild...
The circle of life.
And no matter how old I get…
or how many grandchildren I have of my own…
I am still a daddy's girl,
and it makes me so happy to be able to present something to him on this Father's Day
that makes him smile…
that lets him know just how incredibly profound his influence has been on me.
In Sunday's paper, the Tennesseean,
there was the
that had been in the works.
The timing could not have been more perfect.
To be able to slide into the pew at church, beside him, and hand him this paper..
and to hold his hand, and sing songs of praise…hearing his deep bass voice along with my alto…
all I can think, is how very good God is.
I don't take one day for granted.
Not one single one.
And this little fella is so fortunate to have such a legacy.
To have such a handsome, loving daddy…
and such a beautiful, loving mommy…
…and every time I look on this precious face...
…and every time I hold him close, in my arms...
I will thank God for him and this incredible circle of life.
Happy Father's Day
William H. Jones, Jr. and Matthew Taylor Blankenship
You are missed everyday, Grandaddy, Fred Aly, Jr.
Blessings.