Father's Day Gift

Father’s Day Gift

          I gave my Dad an unusual Fathers Day present. I was at a loss as to what to buy him since he is the quintessential, impossible to buy for, Dad. He doesn’t need or want much and he already has every tool made. After some thought, I realized that “we” were what he wanted. He loves his family and friends. His favorite thing to do these days is meet new people and share stories. He has been so looking forward to getting together with his old football buddies at the UGA - Tennessee game this coming season. The alumni will be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Coach Dooley’s first UGA team. As many of you already know, my Dad was fullback on the team. Well, the thought of the stories I have heard, and some are outrageous,  got me to thinking about his love of the shared memory and what to get him for Father’s day.

          My gift to Dad was an empty journal. I have heard thousands of interesting stories about his growing up in the woods logging in Glennville, Georgia and life as a college football player. The crazy characters and their lives such as the eight year old cousin that stayed home from school sick and the uncle that hid a bunch of mason jars of moonshine under the covers with him because the sheriff made an unexpected visit. How about the time his mother set her pistol on the counter at the Dairy Queen as she rifled through her pocketbook looking for her wallet to pay for the ice cream. The checkout girl ran to the back screaming. Grandma Betty just looked up and said, “What in the world is wrong with her?” The boys were in the floor laughing as the pistol just sat there on the counter looking completely out of place.

          My point is not for my Dad to live in the past, but for him to share his and my mother’s life with us. Just yesterday after lunch, we laughed as he was telling about he and Uncle Mike would race the little Ford tractors they pulled logs with. They got stuck every way you can, turned over and thrown off. “it’s a wonder we didn’t get killed!” he said. I believe people should enjoy being who they are and not try to be something else to impress the world. Ronnie Jenkins likes being a man. What you see is what you get, no politics and no fluff. He’s always enjoyed being greasy and dirty and satisfied that he stuck with the job until he whipped it. I am glad that I have been greasy and dirty beside him for a good portion of it.

          I hope my Mom and Dad adjust to this new season in their lives as Dad is recovering from open heart surgery and I am sure that Mom is having to adjust to more together time with Dad. He is used to barking orders at a skinny boy who isn’t holding the flashlight just right to see the nut to turn so we can get that old log truck back to work at 5am tomorrow morning. What could be so wrong with reminiscing about a full and honest life?

          Dad’s life is changing. We move into new seasons in which God has new plans for us. I know my life certainly has changed. I hope Dad enjoys putting some of his memories into ink for generations of Jenkins’ and Olivers’ to enjoy. God gives us each day new, to be lived, loved and enjoyed to the full. Everyday God renews His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, we have no excuse that should allow the devil to steal our joy. If you are not in a new or different season in your life, you soon will be. Each day is a gift that we should accept and live fully in Christ so that when the day is done, the way we lived the day can be our gift back to God. Count your blessings and not your problems.  God loves you…. Love Him back with the life you live.