The Diligence of Dad

Yesterday my Dad turned 80 years old.

It is an incredible age to reach. Sure there are folks in their 90’s and upwards who see tharmt as still having a mid-life, but looking on and knowing my Dad’s made that milestone makes me incredibly grateful to God for sparing his life.

Among the many other qualities I think of when I think of my Dad an outstanding one is his diligence. Nothing he applied himself to was done neglectfully or half-heartedly. You could almost set yoir clock to Dad’s reliability and consistent attention to his responsibilities. Obviously a large deal of my picture of manhood came from my Dad and that model of diligence left a lasting impact on me.

That diligence came from his clear understanding that he should only do what God told him to do. Nothing more, nothing less. Not veering to the left or the right. Keeping focussed on his role and following things through to the end methidically.

I see that diligence reflected in Jesus’ approach where He only did what He saw His Father doing. This meant Lazarus being dead for three days before Jesus turning up. This meant putting mud on a blind man’s eyes. This meant challenging His followers with eating His flesh and drinking His blood – a move that saw that following rapidly dwindle. In all this Jesus remained diligent.

My Dad had plenty of reasons to be less than diligent. That he never reflected his love for God. I hope to walk in my Dad’s footsteps where that is concerned, and for the cause of my Saviour be diligent to the end.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden