Reflections of a Parent's Love
I would never have thought that a funeral could be the setting for a valuable lesson in child-rearing. I attended a service for the forty-eight year-old husband of a co-worker of mine. He had died of cancer just days after being diagnosed. The man was deeply loved by friends and family and highly respected in the community. The church was nearly full. Toward the end of the service the man's nineteen year-old son, Jeff, rose to present the eulogy. Choking back bitter tears, the young man shared with us how his dad had poured himself into his son for nearly two decades. When there was a school sporting event, Dad was there. When homework seemed too challenging, Dad always had time to help. When life threw difficult questions in his path, Dad always seemed to have the answer. Instead of watching TV all evening, Dad watched his children grow spiritually, intellectually and physically. Jeff told of the countless hours his father invested in practicing side by side with him as he grew to love sports. He confessed that even though, at times, he resented his dad's "pushing" him to excel in all that he did, he now looked back with a deep appreciation for what the molding process had produced in his life -- a reflection of his father's love. Toward the end of his tribute Jeff's voice broke, and he paused with head bowed. His mother and younger sister joined him at the pulpit to offer support. Soft crying could be heard across the audience. As powerful as Jeff's words were, the real lesson was Jeff himself. His life, not merely his words, was the greatest tribute he could offer. And I suspect that each parent in the audience wondered as I did. If that were my son or daughter behind that pulpit, what would they be saying? And, more importantly, what would their lives reflect of me?