I hope you all had a great Father’s Day weekend! I sure did. Let me tell you about it!
We were fortunate to have had dinner Saturday night with one of our sons and his family on their desk. If you live near Nashville, you know the weather was unbelievable. The air was cool and dry, and fireflies were dancing over the lawn making the scene as sensational as a Monet. Dinner was simple. “Make your own” tacos. All, and I mean all, of the “fixens” were there and ready so we only had to load our plates.
Dinner was great, but the evening was fantastic and made special by of the kids, two high schoolers and one in middle school. I know many people have negative feelings about teens and being around them. I have never been able to understand that. I find this age group fascinating. So let me brag a bit about them. These three with their pleasant, happy, conversation and their well mannered personalities cast the evening onto a special page in my memory book.
When we were finished with dinner one of the boys asked if he could get the presents for Dad. It was a scene from “Leave it to Beaver” when Mom said, “Clean up the dishes and the kitchen and bring on the gifts.” The task was done without arguing or bickering, almost too good to be real. And in a few minutes out they came with their treasures.
They were so excited to present them as this was the first time they all had had their own money to spend. Here I saw the pleasure of giving! None of them would have been as excited if they had won the lottery. The pleasure was contagious.
Their dad loves to cook, so they gave him some special sauces and condiments from William-Sonoma’s. Then they presented him with what they called the “Best gift ever.” An itching of Golgotha! And he loved it. I couldn’t imagine teens searching for such a rare treasure, but they searched and found. They were so proud!
Too soon the evening was over but the weekend was not. Sunday, after church, we went with some of them and some other family members for breakfast at my favorite place and my office away from home – Panera. There we said farewell to our recent Vandy grad who is leaving this week for Medical School at Northwestern in Chicago. He is the one many of you saw on-line helping me put up the clock he and his brothers bought for their dad. It may have looked like work to you, but it was a real treat to work with him.
Some hours later when the clock was up and running, his mom treated us to a super steak diner. And for you naysayers and doubters out there, she is a great grill-master! Dinner was followed by one of Mary’s delicious blue berry pies.
So where was God in all of this? I saw Him in the faces of the grand kids! And it was an awesome, breath taking experience.
Take some time this summer to visit with the teenagers you know, listen to their ideas, celebrate them. Treat them like the adults they are trying to become. Your reward, and theirs, will be unforgettable!
If you know someone with teens, share this Father’s Day memory with them. They will most likely tell you of their own great day!