A Glimpse of the Boy, and a Glimpse of the Man.

I caught a glimpse of the young man my Dad once was when he was 14 years old.  It was a treasure to see and one I will forever cherish in my heart.  We were able to take a pontoon boat out on Lake of the Woods to go on an excursion that included the Island where my Dad owned and operated a minnow business and a place for fisherman to stock up on supplies needed for a day of fishing on Lake of the Woods. 

My Dad was a guide on Lake of Woods for one of the resorts when he was 14 years old.  He would take the fisherman out on the launches and guide them to best fishing spots and take care of all their needs while in his care.  He worked hard. 

My Dad drove the pontoon boat, and as I looked at him in his element, I saw the years melt away, and I saw the spirit of adventure he had.  His love for the Lake and the Land showed through and you could see the memories as he retold stories from years ago.

We were shown the spot where my Dad proposed to my Mom so many years ago.  The love between my parents is a gift that has grown over the years, and it was a blessing to us to see where it all began.

I love my Dad.  He is one of the hardest workers I have ever known.  His sense of duty to his family over the years is amazing.  He went without so that he could provide for his wife and his children.  I do not ever remember my Dad feeling sorry for himself as he sacrificed for us, he just did it.  Most importantly, my Dad along with my Mom taught us to always love and trust in Jesus in all things.  The lessons I have learned from my Dad cannot be learned from a book or a Professor at a prestigious university.  They were learned by watching my Dad love and care for us.  Watching Dad trust the Lord in times of joy as well as times of sorrow.  It was in the everyday activities of life.

My Dad had and still has a love for adventure.  He was planning on going to Alaska before he met my Mom.  He never went to Alaska.  I have told my Dad many times how thankful I am for all that he did for us.  One time stands out vividly in my mind.  As I told my Dad how much I loved him, and I thanked him, he looked at me and told me he would do it all over again. 

I also had the opportunity to watch Jacob drive the pontoon boat under the guidance of my Dad.  What a thrill to handle a boat on such a vast body of water, it was amazing.  As I watched my son, I saw a glimpse of the man he will become someday.  My heart was overwhelmed with words that are difficult to express.

Jacob has the best qualities of both of his Grandfathers and his Dad.  I am filled with wonder as I watch my son grow into the man God has created him to be.  I am thankful for this moment in time.  I have struggled with how quickly time seems to pass and the knowledge that Jacob will be all grown up before I know it.  I found hope and joy in watching him with his Dad and his Grandpa, knowing he will be a fine young man because he has had wonderful examples.

In closing, I would like to share my Dad’s favorite scripture passage.  I am also going to include his favorite hymn but I am going to use the version that is sung in Cherokee.  My Dad’s Great Grandmother was a Cree Indian.  My Dad loves to be outdoors enjoying the beautiful creation our loving God created for us.

^“28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40: 28-31

Footnotes:

1. Isaiah 40:2 Or hardship
2. Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one crying
3. Isaiah 40:6 Revocalization based on Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Vulgate; Masoretic Text And someone says
4. Isaiah 40:6 Or all its constancy
5. Isaiah 40:9 Or O herald of good news to Zion
6. Isaiah 40:9 Or O herald of good news to Jerusalem
7. Isaiah 40:13 Or has directed
8. Isaiah 40:20 Or He chooses valuable wood

Cross references:

1. Isaiah 40:1 : ch. 51:12; [Luke 2:25]
2. Isaiah 40:2 : Hos. 2:14
3. Isaiah 40:2 : [2 Chr. 36:22; Jer. 25:12]
4. Isaiah 40:3 : Cited Matt. 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23
5. Isaiah 40:3 : Mal. 3:1; [ch. 57:14]
6. Isaiah 40:3 : Ps. 68:4
7. Isaiah 40:4 : Cited Luke 3:5; [ch. 49:11]
8. Isaiah 40:5 : [Luke 3:6]
9. Isaiah 40:5 : ch. 1:20
10. Isaiah 40:6 : Cited 1 Pet. 1:24, 25; [Job 14:2; Ps. 102:11; 103:15; James 1:10]
11. Isaiah 40:8 : Cited James 1:11
12. Isaiah 40:9 : ch. 52:7
13. Isaiah 40:10 : ch. 59:16, 17; [Luke 11:22]
14. Isaiah 40:10 : ch. 62:11; [Rev. 22:12]
15. Isaiah 40:11 : Ezek. 34:23; Zech. 11:7; [John 10:11; 21:15; Acts 20:28]
16. Isaiah 40:11 : [Matt. 18:12; Luke 15:5]
17. Isaiah 40:11 : [Num. 11:12]
18. Isaiah 40:12 : [Prov. 30:4]
19. Isaiah 40:13 : Cited Rom. 11:34; [1 Cor. 2:16]
20. Isaiah 40:14 : Job 21:22
21. Isaiah 40:15 : ch. 29:5
22. Isaiah 40:15 : ch. 41:1
23. Isaiah 40:16 : [Ps. 50:10]
24. Isaiah 40:17 : Ps. 62:9; Dan. 4:35; [ch. 41:12]
25. Isaiah 40:18 : ver. 25; ch. 46:5; Acts 17:29
26. Isaiah 40:18 : [Hos. 13:2]
27. Isaiah 40:19 : [See ver. 18 above]; [Hos. 13:2]
28. Isaiah 40:20 : ch. 46:6; Jer. 10:3-5; See ch. 44:9-15
29. Isaiah 40:21 : ver. 28; [Acts 14:17; Rom. 1:19, 20]
30. Isaiah 40:22 : [Num. 13:33]
31. Isaiah 40:22 : Job 9:8; Ps. 104:2
32. Isaiah 40:23 : Job 12:21; Ps. 107:40
33. Isaiah 40:24 : ch. 41:2; [Ps. 83:13]
34. Isaiah 40:25 : ver. 18
35. Isaiah 40:26 : Ps. 147:4
36. Isaiah 40:27 : [ch. 49:14]
37. Isaiah 40:27 : [ch. 49:4]
38. Isaiah 40:28 : [Ps. 121:4]
39. Isaiah 40:28 : Ps. 147:5
40. Isaiah 40:31 : Ps. 103:5
41. Isaiah 40:31 : [Ex. 19:4]