Since I post my blogs on Monday, I seem to always be a day behind or a week ahead when it comes to Mother’s and Father’s Day posts.  However, I still feel compelled to mention it even if it is old news at this point!  Just consider this being 364 days early for next year!

Even though my dad has been gone for many years now, I still miss him from time to time and especially on holidays that honor his memory.   I can remember as a child going on Sunday mornings to our local store to pick-up a newspaper with my dad.  Our Springfield radio station always had a couple hours of spiritual music on Sunday mornings and dad would have the radio playing as we rode to and from the store.  He couldn’t hold a tune, but it will be forever etched in my mind, him driving down the road singing, “How Great Thou Art,” at the top of his lungs along with the radio.

I was blessed yesterday to have that same song be sung in our worship time at church.  It always makes me cry to sing it, but it seems to bring my dad’s spirit so close to me when I do.  As a matter of fact, we sang it last Father’s Day, too!  I have come to find out that it is a favorite song of our worship leader’s dad too.  It’s OK with me if we sing it every year.

Daily, we hear all of the bad things that are happening in the world.  We hear of tornados, war, terrorism, kidnappings, shootings, wildfires, etc.  It’s no wonder that we have depression and anxiety rampant in our society.  With negativity coming at us all the time, it is hard to keep positive and optimistic.  However, if you stop allowing the bad to overcome you and start looking for the good, I guarantee you that you will be blessed!   I didn’t even have to leave home this weekend to be reminded of “How Great Thou Art.”

It seems appropriate to share the beauty that I found around my yard on Saturday as I took time to reflect on the positives in this life.  My dad loved to garden and he would be happy to see that my yard is finally coming around to something that gives us joy rather than work all of the time.  It’s the little things in life, that if we were to just stop and breathe in, that would chase the fears, sadness and distress away from this life.  Remember, this world is only temporary.  There is much more to come for those of us who believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ, as our Savior.

So as I give honor to my earthly father this week of Father’s Day, I am also reminded of my most Precious Heavenly Father.  Won’t you walk through my flower garden with me and give thanks to the One Who Created us all?

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,

Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,

And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.

When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur

And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;

Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;

That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,

He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,

And then proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!