Father’s Day
To all the Dad’s who are often unsung heroes. I have just returned from the Mid-West to help my 90 year old Dad (Da, for those that are close to him) while my Mom was in Maine for her Miniature Art class that she’s taught for 40 years. Da is a native New Yorker from Queens, so we had a lot of great banter this week. I was quoted often saying, “ You’re one stubborn … New Yorker.” We did have some good conversations, often ones you don’t have when you’re younger. But there is something about aging that helps us lower our inhibitions for deeper discussions. So, this lead up to our deeper supper chats, I made one of his and my all time fav’s, chicken livers, onions & bacon. Served with Yv’s Irish smashed new potatoes and English peas with heavy cream & lots of sea salt & Irish grass fed butter. My dad was sharing about his mom and some of her negative traits, I asked him “Have you ever forgiven your mother?” He replied “No.” I said “Do you think you could forgive your Mom? And if so, could you say it with your mouth?” He paused and then said, “ I forgive you, Mom.” Then I said, “How about once more but this time really convincing?” So he kind of looked up and said, “I forgive you mom.” And then he started to smile. I then said, “I think you were successful, I see some joy in your face.”
At supper the following night, we were joined by my nephew, Reilly and his sweet little son Colin, who is nine years old. We had Colin say the prayer, his words were so pure and full of thankfulness, he spoke about everything that was most important in all of our lives and it really blessed me. After Colin said the prayer I shared the story about how Da had forgiven his mom. Everyone in our family know’s the relationship of Da and his mother, so it was sweet to see his grandson see some breakthrough in his grandfathers heart.
In the world we live in we can often become discouraged if we only look at things through our own perspective instead of truly seeing the world through God’s heart. I realize this can be easier said than done. I listened to a fabulous book by a man named Fred Luskin, another Brooklynite.
His book is called,“Forgive for Good”
I found it helped me so much, it spoke about forgiving those that have hurt you and that you’ve continued to allow to hurt you by going over in your mind the pain that you felt all that time ago.
I'm a nugget guy and this was my number one nugget from this book. It paints a picture of how our thoughts and memories are the in flight planes organized by the air-traffic controller, our mind.
He emphasizes & encourages us to land those planes that represent specific hurts & pain etc. This is how we can become FREE from the past.
Kenneth Hagin, who I just loved to bits and reminds me so much of my dear friend Wendell, used to always say, “if your prayers seem unanswered, ask yourself do I have ought against this person?”
So powerful.
This is my jumbo jet verse, 747 easy to remember and also so impactful for a guy like me.
Luke 7:47TPT
"I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, for she has shown me much love. But the one who is forgiven little loves little."
This verse emphasizes that the woman's great love is a response to the forgiveness she has received.”
I think back on unsaved Grady and it reminds me of my first attraction to Yvonne (who was already saved), I could see that she had been forgiven much and so she loved much and thankfully her story became mine also.
I Speak a blessing over all of our families and as my dear friend Lou Murchison, always says, “Holy Spirit show me what lie they’re believing.” I pray this over all of us that the Holy Spirit will show us what lies we’re believing, but most importantly to counter them with the truth that sets us free. I pray for opportunity’s that will give us a inroad into peoples hearts in a loving & unsolicited way.
Love Grady O’ & all of our O’ posse
