Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: GENTLE (10/21/21)
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TITLE: A Smile, A Laugh, A Dad | Previous Challenge Entry
By Art Fahy
10/27/21 -
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As a believer, I knew I had to release my resentment and forgive him. My friend, Ralph, suggested I delve into how he was raised. What did he go through? His thoughts were his drinking and anger could be an off shoot of some deep hurt. Doing my research I discovered he grew up in an alcoholic household with an abusive father. He went through the depression and was wounded in World War 2. He drank heavily and turned out like his father an alcoholic. The only way my father could handle difficult situations in life was to drink his way through them. It was a shame he lived like this and damaged his family the way he did. Still, I could not help but have empathy for him.
It was difficult to forgive my father. I prayed to God to help me, because I was helpless doing it on my own. Over time I reached a point when I thought of my father or was in his presence the anger wasn’t as strong and didn’t last as long. I meditated day and night on Proverbs 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”(NIV) If he was harsh when we spoke, I retreated within asking the Holy Spirit to give me strength.
We moved my father into an assisted living home. I visited him at least once every seven to ten days. I began to look forward to our visits. The bite in his tonality wasn’t as sharp. One day I walked into his room and he looked at me and asked, “What are you smiling about?”
“It’s good to see you again.”
He actually smiled. He handed me a large envelope.
“What’s this?”
“Read it when you get home.” He cocked his head and squinted saying, “You seem different. Like more calm.”
Clearing my throat I responded, “I’ve accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I surrendered my life to Him.”
He pondered this for a few seconds and responded by telling me he use to go to church.
“Yeah on Christmas and Easter.” I said.
We both laughed a good hearty belly laugh.
He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Religion didn’t work for me.”
“So what does work for you dad?”
He sat silent looking past me out the window. His eyes brightened. There was a peacefulness about him.
“It’s not about religion. It’s about a relationship with the Lord.” I said.
He turned toward me smiling and placed his right index finger to his lips.
He was tired so I cut the visit short. Driving home I thought of his smile, our laughter, calling him dad. I don’t know the last time any of these things ever happened. Reaching home I dropped into my recliner and read the contents of the envelope. He redid his will and to my surprise I was now the executor.
Three days after that visit my father passed. Right away my mind went to our conversation about religion and relationship. How he looked out the window and seemed content. What did he mean when he said, “Religion didn’t work for me?” What caused the brightness in his eyes and the contentment about him? Did he have a relationship with the Lord? My father smiling and laughing that’s a rarity. Only God can do that. RIP dad.
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Thank you for this well written testimony of your brokenness which turned into healing.
Keep writing.