Deep Breath...With Father's Day quickly approaching I've been reflecting on what a wonderful father Neil was to Chase. This was beautifully evident even in the brief amount of time we were blessed to have with him. It was actually Neil's love and dedication towards Chase that made me fall in love with him. Sure, at first, the idea of becoming a Father frightened him especially after living life as a batchlor for so many years and never really interacting with kids. But, it didn't take long for Neil to step up to the plate. He never missed a doctor appointment or sonogram except for one and that was because I told him to. While in the hospital, Neil never left our side. When our son was born, I watched as Neil prayerfully made decisions with the doctors concerning Chase. I was in awe, as Neil ever so gently bathed and dressed our son knowing his time with us would be short. Neil cradled Chase in his arms showering him with kisses while whispering words of love and comfort to him. They listened to the sound of the ocean together until it was time for Chase to move ahead. Chase went from his Daddy's arms into his heavenly father's arms. Neil has always considered it an honor to be Chase's daddy. Even today, through all the heartache he speaks of all the good that Chase brought to our lives. Things that only God, Neil, and I may ever fully understand. Neil will always be Chase's forever Daddy! Make sure, as parents, that you place loving your children as a high priority. Don't get caught in the trap of providing so many material things for them that you loose precious moments with them that you both will cherish. The love you share will last forever. If you would like to visit Chase's page you may do so at: http://www.virtual-memorials.com/main.php?action=view&mem_id=15349 Feel free to leave Neil a Father's Day wish I'm sure it will mean a lot to him.
Prayer by Stormie Omartian:
Lord, teach (name of person you are praying for) to be a good father. Where it was not modeled to him according to Your ways, heal those areas and help him to forgive his dad. Give him revelation of You and a hunger in his heart to really know You as his heavenly Father. Draw him close to spend time in Your presence so he can become more like You, and fully understand Your Father's heart of compassion and love toward him. Grow that same heart in him for his children. Help him to balance mercy, judgment, and instruction the way You do. You require obedience, You are quick to acknowledge a repentant heart. Make him that way, too. Show him when to discipline and how. Help him to see that he who loves his child disciplines him promptly (Proverbs 13:24). May he never provoke his "children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). I pray we will be united in the rules we set for our children and be in full agreement as to how they are raised. I pray that there will be no strife or argument over how to handle them and the issues that surround their lives.
Give him skills of communication with his children. I pray he will not be stern, hard, cruel, cold, abusive, noncommunicative, passive, critical, weak, uninterested, neglectful, undependable, or uninvolved. Help him instead to be kind, loving, soft-hearted, warm, interested, affirming, affectionate, involved, strong, consistent, dependable, verbally communicative, understanding, and patient. May he require and inspire his children to honor him as their father so that their lives will be long and blessed.
Lord, I know we pass a spiritual inheritance to our children. Let the heritage he passes on be one rich in the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Enable him to model clearly a walk of submission to Your laws. may he delight in his children and long to grow them up Your way. Being a good father is something he wants very much. I pray that You would give him the desire of his heart. AMEN!
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