Today I had a wonderful time at men’s, it is just so awesome to see what God has planned for the men of NHPC, the growth of each person is so convicting with my personal walk with God, to see that my struggles are their struggles, to learn that we are all our brother's keeper, and no matter how difficult the problem, we can overcome any obstacle with God first in our lives. I had a very challenging week, but I want to share with you one particular day I had this week that really touched my heart.
On Tuesday I decided to do some things that needed to get taken care of in my room. We have a two bedroom house that we live in, a nice cozy place. When we moved in we decided that our kids would get the rooms and me and my wife would get the living room, so we decorated these rooms to their liking, Matthew’s room was painted blue with white moldings and his trophies and old jersey’s proudly displayed on the walls for people to see. Sheana’s room is painted white with purple window drapes, and her accomplishments are displayed as well. The rules were to keep the rooms clean and you get to live in it. Well Matthew had a little struggle with the rules (must be a boy thing) and ended up in the living room and we took his room, intact with few changes to the decor.
On this particular day I decided to give the room a little change so I started with the closet, then I moved on to my side of the room. Next I did the computer area. After vacuuming the floor, I looked at the wall where Matthew's trophy’s and jersey’s were, and all these memories started coming back of these wonderful times we had with baseball practice, coaching the basketball teams he was on, the talks about winning and losing, the ice creams after the games, the one-on-one conversations we had, and the two of us tossing baseballs at the park, just spending some good times together. So I continued to clean on and decided to take these things down from the wall and put them in a box for him to have latter. As I was putting up these things, it hit me like a ton of bricks, my heart started to swell up, my eyes started to tear, and this feeling of me losing my son to adulthood just brought me to tears. You see, my childhood upbringing was far from peachy so I always worried and wondered if I’ve done enough for my children, being a father who listens - someone who’s encouraging enough, spending quality time. In all these things, was I GOOD ENOUGH!!!
And with a cool breeze blowing threw my room (which is usually hot at this time of the day) God’s message for me was that it was OK and that I was doing my job as a father. Those trophy’s that I was putting away were not only Matthew’s memories and accomplishments but my rewards too!
So, I encourage you fathers to find that time where God can speak to you, that visual reflection of those things that can make you FORGET ALL the wrongs that your children has done so you can move on and not worry (too much) and lean more on the comforts of God's words. To all my brothers in Christ, Fathers' Day is coming - accept everything this day that God has given to you and find those trophies that you share with your children. For those brothers who are just starting their ohana, FILL YOUR CHILDREN'S ROOMS WITH TROPHIES . - “ As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord “
Biggest love,
Leland
HAPPY FATHERS DAY
Copyright 2005 Leland Fuentes
