Madison Christian Church

Two years ago on Father's Day, I was rushed to the hospital suffering from appendicitis. Not being the sharpest tool in the box, I had waited too long to admit I had a problem and seek attention. Now I was paying the conseqences. In between episodes of nausea and vomiting, I told Diane, This Father's Day sure stinks. My dad is gone. My boys do not live at my house anymore. My side is aching.That's the only time that has happened. Every other Father's Day since 1981 when I became a dad has been a day of joy and celebration.

As a mother was walking with her 4-year-old daughter, the girl picked up something off the ground and started to put it in her mouth, and Mom told her not to do that. "Why? "

"Because it's been lying outside and is dirty and probably has germs."

At this point, she looked at her mother with total admiration and asked, "How do you know all this stuff?"

Thinking quickly, she replied, "It's on the mommy test. You have to  know it, or they don't let you be a mommy."

"Oh." She said seemingly satisfied. They walked along in silence for 2 or 3 minutes, but the daughter was evidently pondering this new information.

"I get it!" she beamed. "Then if you flunk, you have to be the daddy."

Well, I will happily flunk the test if it means I get the privilege of being a dad. The experience of fatherhood has been pure joy. I have loved, and continue to love, every bit of the experience. It ranks among the greatest privileges of my life. My life is made infinitely richer by David, Joy, Jonathon, and Heather. I thank God for them daily.