A note from Kelly King: This Sunday is Father’s Day. If your dad is alive and you have a great relationship with him, I hope you’ll get to celebrate together. For some of you, the father relationship is more difficult—even painful. As Kaye reminds us today, we should be sensitive to those who may not see this weekend as a celebration but be available to hear them and sensitive to their needs.
On October 26, 1997, the Florida Marlins won the World Series. Impressed that I know that? Don’t be; I’m not a baseball fan. I know that because that is the night my dad died. I was at my dad’s home in Michigan, and my husband was in Florida where we were living at the time. I called him to say that my dad had died, and I heard the cheering of the World Series win in the background. Someday I’ll be on a game show and the million dollar question will be, “What date did the Florida Marlins win their first World Series?” and I’ll know it! One can dream.
My mom died twenty-five years ago, and five years later my dad followed. He was diagnosed with lung cancer on October 1 and died on October 26. He died at home in his bed surrounded by all five of his children and a few of their spouses. We sang, we cried, and we prayed. It is a moment I will never forget.
This Sunday is Father’s Day. While many will celebrate with great joy, many will not. For many women, Father’s Day is a very hard and painful day. If that is the case for you, I am so sorry.
I am so sorry. Some women are grieving the loss of their fathers to death. Others are grieving the loss of a healthy relationship with their dads in life. I was speaking with a family last week whose dad passed away recently. They planned the funeral for Father’s Day weekend. I asked them why, and they said, “We didn’t want to ruin another summer weekend.” Their relationship with their dad in life was both painful and complicated. Father’s Day has always been a painful day for them. In fact, that is one weekend of the year they choose not to attend church; it’s just too painful.
If this is you, I am so sorry.
Could I encourage us today to be mindful of these women around us this weekend? If someone you know is hurting in this way, perhaps you could send a text, take her for coffee, or offer to go for a walk with her. Whatever you choose to do, please acknowledge her pain. Please let her know you see her and are praying for her. If you have any influence in the planning of your church’s Father’s Day service, would you please acknowledge the ones who are hurting?
My dad was 70 when he died. If your dad has passed away, regardless of his age, may I say, there is no OK time to lose your daddy, and I am so, so sorry for your loss. If your dad is still living and you have a pretty good relationship with him, consider yourself blessed and hug his neck today if you’re able; call him if you’re not.
If our desire is to minister to hurting women, then this is a day that should be highlighted on our calendars!
Kaye Hurta has a Masters Degree in counseling from Liberty University and is a crisis counselor for Women’s Events through Lifeway Christian Resources. Whether speaking, singing, or listening, Kaye’s passion is to help others find intimacy with Christ and soul transformation through the living pages of His Word. Kaye met and married her husband Chris in Austin, Texas in 1987. They have two daughters through the miracle of adoption, Madison and Cami. They live in the Chicago burbs where they are both on staff at Willow Creek Community Church. Kaye is also a contributing author for the Lifeway resource, Women Reaching Women in Crisis.