This Man I Call ‘Dad’
“You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you
see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.
2Kings 2:10
One day as my father and I visited, I made a request, “Dad,
I want a double portion of your anointing…a double portion of your
Pastor/Evangelist/Teacher mantle!”
He smiled and teased, “You know that Elisha asked Elijah the
same thing, right?”
Pretty sure of where this was going I said, “Yeeees…”
“You have asked a difficult thing,” he said, eyes twinkling.
“Yet, if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it
will not!”
We both laughed. I knew there was truth in his jest, but the
way he’d said it tickled me.
While driving home, I reflected on the rest of the
conversation. I knew I had already received much of who Dad was. And although I
didn’t realize it as it was happening, Dad had managed to pour into my life by
example.
He had taught me many things; how to be a man, a good
husband and father. He taught me how to use my hands, and not to be afraid to
dive right in and get things done. Yet in all the things I learned from watching
my father, none was more significant or vital than observing his example of how
to be a Christian.
Dad taught me that Christianity is a lifestyle, not a
cliché, and that a life lived unto the Lord is wrought with challenges.
Watching him meet those challenges without complaining or grumbling said a lot
about the character of this man I call Dad.
†
My father is a great man of God. He has faithfully served
the Lord for more than half a century. I aspire to do the same in my lifetime.
1Peter 2:21 says, “To this you were called, because Christ
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
Having had my Dad be that example has been a tremendous blessing, one for which
I will be forever grateful. I pray that it would be true in your life as well.
Prayer
“Thank You, LORD, for my father. I ask for a double portion
of his anointing in my life. In Jesus’ Name I ask this, amen.”
Dedicated to my ‘Dad’, Rev. John A. Clouston
From: More Snapshots: continuing the spiritual journey
By: Craig Clouston
©2011 c.clouston creations, LLC
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