Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent
As a child, my father taught us our prayers and prayed with us on the evenings when he was home. It is strange how time seems to erase our memories. Dad has been dead for twenty years. He never met my wife or family, but in a funny way I know they have met him.
While our son was in the womb, my wife and I began reading about how to raise him after he was born. Although there is no instruction book, we did find some helpful guides. I recall one book we came across made a big deal about swaddling and bed time routines. It explained that these helped give a child a routine which would aid in their getting to sleep. As Christian parents we natural prayed with our son as part of this. Very early on I added this line at the end of the prayers. “Remember that we thank God every day that you came to stay at our house.” At first I did not think of why I did this, I just did it. Finally I remembered that these were the last words my father uttered every night to my siblings and I at the end of our prayers.
Every night my father proclaimed his love for us. It seemed almost appalling that I had forgotten. Fortunately, my sons and my daughter are living reminders of my father’s thanksgiving. Isaiah too was a living reminder to the Israelites that God comforts and shows mercy to his people. The long night of their exile was ending and the Israelites were returning home. The Lord had not abandoned them. The Lord had not forgotten. Just as the Lord had not forgotten the Israelites, neither did he forget us. Thus the Lord sent us his Son Jesus, who like Isaiah, was a reminder to us of the Lord’s love.
"Lord, continue to send us reminders of you this day. Give us eyes that will be recognize Your blessings, so that we will never forget that You alone have the words of everlasting life. Amen!"
Thank you Lord, for sending the gift children to stay at my house; so that I would never forget a father’s love.
- Michael Montgomery