-NOT BESTSELLERS, BUT HELPING All WE CAN-
Glenn & Dana Pemberton
Father’s Day #1 (2013)
“Our Father, who is in heaven,”
so our Brother taught us to pray;
and so, Lord, we begin each week,[*]
daring to label the Divine
with a name so utterly human,
stained by we who are fathers.
Our Father, who is in heaven:
A faithful presence,
who never walks out on us.
A giver of unconditional love,
from the moment we were born.
A wise counselor,
who listens to our every word.
A safe place to hide,
no matter what we have done.
An imaginative creator,
filling our world with beauty.
A proud father,
our Father, who is in heaven.
One who enjoys laughing with us,
and taking us on adventures.
One who understands us;
our sighs, the look in our eyes.
One who will hold his calls,
as long as we need his attention.
One who is willing to take the heat,
when we do something wrong.
One who is always, always, looking out
for our best interests.
The Father of the fatherless;
and we all are orphans,
lost in a world disappointments,
pain, and substitute love.
The world’s #1 dad:
Our Father, who is in heaven:
hallowed be thy name.
[*] Note: My home congregation recites the Lord’s prayer together every Sunday.
A Father’s Day Prayer (#2)
“Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;”
if Father’s Day were only so simple.
Many of us can celebrate this day,
in the all-American way;
for the all-American dad.
The dad who was there for every
Little League game, come rain or heat.
The dad who never missed a dance recital,
choral or theatre performance.
Soccer tournaments, triple-headers,
Father-daughter dances, and cook-outs.
Always there, always supportive, always proud:
whether we hit a homer or hit a sour note.
Thank you, Lord, for our script,
for providing us with a father like you.
Oh God, how we wished this were the end;
that this script was everyone’s story.
But we know, God, there is another side,
and we must speak truth – Father’s day or not,
for the sake of those who cannot celebrate today,
but for whom today is a day of terrifying reminders.
A reminder of the smell of alcohol,
on his breath and his clothes.
The coke and weed, highs and the lows;
getting to ride shotgun with dad to the store.
Walking in on dad with the other woman,
who became my step-mom.
Trying so hard not to make dad angry,
knowing what would come if I failed.
The “special love” when no one else was home,
the shame, wondering if mom had a clue.
Keeping the family secret – a secret,
memorizing each threat
if I so much as hinted at the truth.
Does the church have a clue on Father’s Day?
“Let’s have the fathers stand;
gather ‘round them church.
Let’s lay hands on these fine, godly men,
leading their families to be Jesus-followers.”
I’d love to lay my hands on dad,
but he’s with that other woman today.
Do my tears mean nothing?
Will no one dare to speak the truth?
God, don’t you know? Don’t you care?
Stop him! Set me high above so I can see.
Then lay your hands on him! And let me shout:
“Happy Father’s Day Dad!”