Tawas Area Presbyterian Church "A Church with a Heart, in the Heart of the Bay." Tawas Area Presbyterian Church "A Church with a Heart, in the Heart of the Bay."
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December 2007 - Newsletter - Page 2

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"The Forgotten Man of Christmas"

That was the title of a sermon I preached back in Dec. of 2001. I used a story, from the columnist Erma Bombeck, to make the point that Joseph, like many other fathers, are sometimes taken for granted. I have very fond memories of my father, as I hope many of you do of your fathers. So here's a tribute to all the forgotten men of Christmas, past, present and future.

Daddy Doll Under the Bed
(Erma Bombeck - Baltimore Sun - 1981)
When I was a little kid, a father was like the light in the refrigerator. Every house had one, but no one really knew what either of them did once the door was shut. My dad left the house every morning and always seemed glad to see everyone again at night. He opened the jar of pickles when no one else could. He was the only one who wasn't afraid to go into the basement all by himself.

He cut himself shaving but no one kissed it or got excited about it. It was understood that whenever it rained, he got the car and brought it around to the door. When anyone was sick, he went out to get the prescription filled. He set mousetraps and cut back the roses so the thorns wouldn't snag you. He oiled my roller skates, and ran alongside my bike for at least 1,000 mi. until I got the hang of it. He signed all my report cards. He took a lot of pictures but was never in them. He tightened my mother's clothes line every week or so.

I was afraid of everyone else's father except my own. Once I made him some tea. Just sugar water, but he sat on a small chair and said it was delicious. He looked very uncomfortable. Whenever I played house, the mother doll had a lot to do. I never knew what to do with the daddy doll; so I had him say: "I'm going off to work now", and then threw him under the bed.

When I was 9 yrs. old my father didn't get up one morning but went to the hospital and died the next day. There were a lot of people in the house who brought all kinds of food and we had lots of company. I went to my room and felt under the bed for the father doll. When I found him, I dusted him off and put him on my bed. He never did anything. But I didn't know his leaving would hurt so much. It still does.

We truly wish, that your Christmas be more than just a season,
and joy and peace more than just words.
Yours in Christian love this Christmas 2007.

See you in church,

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