Father's Day

A couple of years ago, someone asked me to write a short biography about my father's life. In this piece, I wrote about my father's accomplishments, about his work as a missionary doctor, and about his calling. Looking back, I realize that a short essay is never enough to encompass the breadth of a man's life.

The essence of a man is more than a list of accomplishments and employments, it is more than words can encompass. In the end, all these lists fade and fall away.

What remains is the memory of sunsets shared together, days in the park, picnics along the roadside, long talks and walks when we were growing up. Time changes us and our memories, until we reach the place where we look at our parents and realize that the distance between us is not so great as we once imagined.

For those of us who are so blessed, we find ourselves thankful to discover that all along, our parents have been the best friends we've ever had.

Happy Father's Day.