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.
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