Memories from Father's Day

Ah yes, Father's Day 2010. A day to honor our fathers and the father of our children. Father's Day in our home this year was laid back, as is mother's day - we have teenage sons. That could be the end of the story and all mothers with teenage boys would smile and understand.

Breakfast and church came and went, no "happy father's day" from either son. About lunchtime, their intelligence came out of slumber to greet Andy with those sweet three words and he was thrilled to be remembered - it was as simple as that.

Close to dinner time - yes, our teenagers show up at mealtimes like most pets do - as the boys were preparing to graze in the kitchen, they decided that it would be nice to treat dad to dinner, so they called Pizza Hut and ordered their favorite meal to share with the parents. That ... almost in totality ... plus watching the US Open and throwing a few Frisbees, completed the father's day celebration in our home.

Well, almost.

At 9 p.m., the three men (Andy and the teens) were sitting in the 'man cave' watching television and I was somewhere in the house - probably doing laundry - when it dawned on me that dad needed to be honored on father's day.

So, excited about my plan to bring sentimentality and a sense of spiritual gratitude into the midst of the man cave, I walked in and quickly grabbed the remote control and pushed PAUSE on the TIVO. Three astonished faces looked up from their iPods, cell phones or whatever they were doing as they multi-tasked between that and television, and in unison the three asked, "What are you doing?"

I sat down, took a deep breath knowing that my idea all of a sudden felt as cheesy as it sounded, but I pressed on. "I think that the three of us need to honor your dad by telling him one thing he's done this year that we appreciate." Andy immediately spoke up and said, "That's cheesy" to which I replied, "I'm a girl living in a house with three guys and every now and then, we're going to have to deal with cheesy."

Looking at the boys, I realized that I had crossed into unchartered and unfriendly territory as they buttoned their lips and retreated into the quietness of their cell phones or iPods or whatever.

Andy said something like, "I know they appreciate me. Don't put words in their mouths. It's okay." Crushed at the rejection of my idea for bringing sentimentality and spiritual sweetness into father's day, I surrendered with this, "Well, I can't put words in their mouth, but you three can hear the words from my heart. Close your eyes." Again, a look of shock. But I pressed on.

"Dear Lord, thank you for Andy. Thank you that he allowed Tyler to choose the college he wanted to attend and respected his decision without trying to control Tyler's decision. Thank you that through life's struggles, Andy has held Patrick's hand and his heart. Thank you that Andy is my strength and the love of my life. And thank you that he loves me in spite of myself. Amen."

I had tears in my eyes as I finished the prayer realizing how much honor and respect Andy truly deserves from the three of us. I looked at the three men in my life to see if they were as touched as I was. There they were, the three of them - wide eyed like deer caught in a headlight. Good grief, guys. As I stood to exit the room, Tyler spoke up. "Mom?" Oh finally, I thought, someone is going to join me in my sentimental moment. "Yes, Tyler?" I replied.

"You forgot to push PLAY."

As I said in the first paragraph, when we live with teenage sons, sometimes that's all people need to understand to know why we are the way we are!

Blessings,

Mary Hamrick
Dragonfly Ministries

September 2010