Today, the 15th of June in 2023, marks the second anniversary of my father’s death. While clearing things out of his desk some months ago, I ran across something I’d written back in 1986, as part of a Fathers Day tribute in light of Psalm 1. [Comments in brackets were not in the original.]

Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
² But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,
And on His Law he meditates day and night.
³ He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

⁴ The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind blows away.
⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
⁶ For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.

My very earliest memories of my father: either he was not home, or my mother was whispering, “sssshh, he’s studying” or “sssshh, he’s sleeping”. [Note: he was a seminary student at the time.] Despite being so busy and tired, he still tucked us into bed every night, read us Bible stories, and prayed with us.

Later, the pastorate placed high demands on our family. He had been taught that the family was to come last, after God and church. There were pressures on him as a pastor, and on us as a family. Daddy had to miss many of my activities, like concerts on Wednesday nights, etc. [In my early adulthood, my father asked me forgiveness for this, and told me that he deeply regretted not prioritizing us.]

What Daddy did give me is even more precious than time. He taught me the law of the Lord, and he showed me by his example what it means to delight in it. Ever since I can remember, Daddy has arisen at an extremely early hour to spend time in prayer and meditation on the Word. Having a father who starts out every day like that is a rich blessing — having our own resident Bible Answer Man was like icing on the cake.

Daddy does more than just start the day with Bible reading; he carries the Law with him throughout the day. Children see their fathers in every possible light. I have seen my father tired, hurt, disappointed, frustrated, angry — I have even seen him near death — but I have never seen him violate or compromise his strong beliefs.

Whether they want to be or not, fathers are teachers. Daddy is a good one. There are many important lessons he has taught me, but the most important one, the lesson that matters throughout eternity, is who Jesus is. How can I help but love the man who introduced me to Jesus?

Daddy has always worked so hard, many times too hard. Yet he took time to make me feel special and pretty and important. He disciplined me with love. He gave me lots of hugs and kisses, and wiped away many tears. [And he mopped up my vomit… bandaged up literal wounds… and straightened my nose after I broke it.] He loves my mother deeply, and treats her with the utmost kindness. He has never ceased praying for me. He has always been terrific in a crisis, responding in the best possible way. His sermons are still my favorite.

I’m proud and very blessed to be the daughter of a man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but instead delights in the law of the Lord.