A Father's Love

Shalom:
I love seeing pictures of fathers and daughters.

For me it is bitter sweet, for I missed that precious love affair that only a father and daughter share. Daddy is a little girl's first love and often he is the standard she measures her future husband to.

 When I think about Muhammad Ali, I think of my step-father. Not just because my step-dad could pass for Mr. Ali's twin, but for the short time he was part of my life, he was really the only father I knew.
I still remember the last time we spoke on the phone. His asking forgiveness for the pain he caused me. Forgiveness I gave. I remember his growing interest in the Torah and wonder if he had indeed returned to his Hebrew roots.
I no longer remember the bad times with Dad, but the good. I remember his coming to school with me after being bullied and letting it be known this was going to stop. And for the rest of the year, it did.

Daddy isn't only a girl's first love, but her hero, her biggest cheerleader and the one she wants to be the proudest of her. I still remember Dad's hug and taking me out for a ice cream because I actually got a A on my math test. It made me work harder; not for the ice cream, but to keep seeing that smile.
My step-dad wasn't perfect. Hurting people hurt others. Sadly, my parents couldn't make their marriage work. But I know that my dad would approve of my choice of husband.
But most importantly, I am thankful for the brief time my step-dad was in my life, for the things he taught me. For the love he gave my sister and I, even though it was imperfect.
Maybe one day, I shall be able to tell him face to face.
 

Teach Your Children

Shalom:
"And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deut. 11:19

Yesterday, I saw the most precious picture on facebook.
It was a friend of my, saying morning prayers. His little daughter came up beside him and picking up the hem of him prayer shawl, joined her Abba (daddy) in prayer. Thankfully, his wife caught this moment on camera.
Because I do not have my friend's permission, I cannot show you the picture.
Another friend, his facebook profile picture is his holding his baby granddaughter, reading the Bible to her.
It is said that faith isn't just taught, but caught by our children. Our children, like it or not watch us very closely and will mimic us.
 How often do we hear "I want to be like my mummy or daddy, when I grow up."
I remember when Aries was about four-teen months old, I found him sitting on the floor, with my new Bible and marking in it.
Yes, at first I was upset, but then I looked at the old Bible sitting on my desk, its pages filled with the notes I had written. Aries had watched me write in my Bible and thought it was OK.
So how can I be mad?
I remember how Aries loved to dress up in suite, making him feel grow up, so proud to look like his step-father. I remember times coming into his room and he was teaching his stuffed animals from the Bible.
I remember one night when he was about six, kneeing at his bed and praying for my sick child. And his fever breaking.
Years later, when I was recovering from surgery, Aries prayed for me.
Yes, it is cute and sweet and even brings tears to our eyes.
But it also makes us as parents and grandparents aware of how much they truly are watching, and even learning from us. The important role we do play. How we have the power to flame belief in their souls. Or put it out.
"But Yeshua said to them, “Let the children come to me and do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” From the Aramaic Bible.