The Old Man from the Mountain would have been 87 tomorrow. Dad sure had his twists and turns and we had more than our share of conflicts. Somewhere along the way I started listening to Jesus a little and found forgiveness I needed and began learning a little about forgiving. And, the last couple of decades of his life, I quit seeing him 1 dimensionally as dad. I got to see the man, listened to hundreds of stories of Eastern Kentucky, depression era life and the struggle of a 12 year old boy whose father died. I enjoyed bass fishing and ginseng hunting more with him than I did as a kid and listened to humorous stories in which we both laughed and sat in stony silence in the presence of recounted heartbreaks. He loved those hills up east tremendously and I never did learn why he left them but I did learn the answer to every other question I had. Sat in church with him at Lake Dreamland House of Prayer and other places, enjoyed gospel and bluegrass concerts throughout the state with him, and kissed his forehead after he breathed his last breath. I scratch my head and wonder, Lord, what in the world was dad ever doing in Louisville? You ever see a wildcat in a cage? It gets a look in its eyes that does not leave. The same thing happens when you tether a hawk to a perch. It is a horrible thing to keep confined that which should be free. Happy Birthday Dad! Youve been free of these trappings now for 8 years. I guess Ive still got a ways to go before I get over this mountain. Lord, thanks for Dad, for the ways you blessed me through him and allowing us to deal with a lot of our differences before he died. I ask you to bless him on his birthday in Jesus name, Amen. youtu.be/noB183N-pi4
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 02:42:54 +0000
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