Papa's Chair

    The Christmas Season has taken on a very different feel over the past two years for my family.  In 2007, my Dad passed away and on Dec. 23, 2008, we lost Candace’s dad very unexpectedly.  This year I was in a very reflective mood when Christmas Day rolled around.  Both of our Dads loved Christmas.  They were like two little kids when it came to the holidays.  They loved to play with their Grandkids and loved to see their faces lights up as they opened gifts.  It was truly a precious time to spend with both of them.  This year I got a little more insight as I had the privilege to sit in each of their “chairs” for a while.

When we went over to see my Mom, I sat in my dad’s recliner and looked around the room and thought about the perspective my dad had seen from this chair over the years.  I saw a glimpse of what he saw as my kids loved on their Mamaw and loved on each other.  I was an awesome sight to see.  As we were leaving, my mom said she had something to give me.  You see up to this point I had never really asked for anything of my dads.  I never wanted to be one of those kids that fought or bargained over a loved ones possessions after they had died.  As she came back into the room, she held out her hand and said, “I want you to have this.  I was your dad’s.”  As she opened her hand, she revealed my father’s wedding band.  She told me that dad would have wanted me to have it.  I slid it on to my finger and thought that the last time this ring was worn it was on my dad’s finger.  I was overwhelmed.  My dad had molded what a godly man should be and do in a marriage.  Now as a symbol of that faithfulness and honor, it has been passed on to me.  It renewed my love for my wife and family in a way I had never expected.  Thanks Dad!!!

            Later we went to Candace’s moms for dinner.  It is always odd walking into their house and not seeing Jim sitting in “his” chair.  That chair became an honored position for him as he watched over his family from that leather perch.   When it came time to open gifts there was only one chair open for me to sit in, Jim’s Chair.  As I sat down in that honored seat, I began to see what Jim saw.  I saw a family that he loved dearly loving each other.  We had so many talks about the importance of family and how important it was for us to be together, especially at the holidays.  I understand now more than ever why that was true for him.  The view from his chair was worth more than any gift that I could have been given this Christmas.

            Christmas is about the greatest gift that has ever been given, Jesus Christ.  It is about the love the Father lavished on the Son, and the obedience of the Son to follow.  This year I saw a glimpse of an earthly father’s love lavished on his family.  It helps me appreciate even more the relationship I have with Christ.  We all need to be reminded of that from time to time.  Thanks you Jesus for the view from Papa’s Chair.