I love talking about Dad.
I had the privilege of mentioning him today a number of times.
73 years ago today a boy was born at Wanless hospital in Miraj, Maharashtra.
His mother had told the hospital that she would be giving her child for adoption. She did. The boy was taken in by a missionary couple Elmore and Alice Eicher who were serving with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
The boy is my father.
Today I had the privilege of telling his story to a young woman who had just walked the path his own birth mother had trod. Unmarried. Did not take the 'easy' option of an abortion. Who has just come back today from having been away from the city during the latter part of her pregnancy. God answered her prayers and the delivery was normal - so that the scar of the C-section would not be seen. And yesterday she went through the legal process of relinquishing her child.
Tonight she will be staying with us. Tonight her daughter is being cared for by others. But we are so grateful that this little girl is alive. She has a future.
Like my father, whose 73rd Birthday anniversary we celebrate today.
How many people Dad has blessed over the years. Can we count? No. And he would anyway not want us to. His legacy is not set in a corporate head-quarters or in a pile of papers published or in a fat bank account.
Dad's legacy is written in people's hearts.
He and Mum have lived out their lives in simple obedience and joy to the Lord Jesus Christ. They have had to shed many tears along the way (most of which I did not see). Their set of disappointments is at least a mile long. But they have been life and joy to so many.
This morning, up in the rainy mountains of Mussoorie, Mum had a birthday breakfast with Dad.
I don't think our card arrived in time to be added to the goodies Mum prepared for the 'birthday boy' (hopefully Asha and Enoch's handiwork will have made it through today). But though we are far away from our parents, our thoughts and prayers were with Dad as he stepped into this new year.
Dad has lived a good life. And he is still actively living it!
We are so blessed to have this Godly man as our father and friend.
A hymn comes to mind, one that was sung by the Jim Elliot and Nate Saint and their friends before they went to meet their Maker. The third verse summarises much of Dad's life - one that with God's help he has been faithfully living out:
We thank God for you. We love you and are blessed by all that you are and all that you are becoming!
Happy Birth Day!
pictures courtesy Christa Eicher and the wonder of the internet which allows me to post something that took place this morning in Mussoorie!
Small update:
Mum ended the day in the same celebratory way that she started it: she took Dad out for a dinner date at Rokeby's
Here is a shot of the two young love birds:
I had the privilege of mentioning him today a number of times.
73 years ago today a boy was born at Wanless hospital in Miraj, Maharashtra.
His mother had told the hospital that she would be giving her child for adoption. She did. The boy was taken in by a missionary couple Elmore and Alice Eicher who were serving with the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
The boy is my father.
Today I had the privilege of telling his story to a young woman who had just walked the path his own birth mother had trod. Unmarried. Did not take the 'easy' option of an abortion. Who has just come back today from having been away from the city during the latter part of her pregnancy. God answered her prayers and the delivery was normal - so that the scar of the C-section would not be seen. And yesterday she went through the legal process of relinquishing her child.
Tonight she will be staying with us. Tonight her daughter is being cared for by others. But we are so grateful that this little girl is alive. She has a future.
Like my father, whose 73rd Birthday anniversary we celebrate today.
How many people Dad has blessed over the years. Can we count? No. And he would anyway not want us to. His legacy is not set in a corporate head-quarters or in a pile of papers published or in a fat bank account.
Dad's legacy is written in people's hearts.
He and Mum have lived out their lives in simple obedience and joy to the Lord Jesus Christ. They have had to shed many tears along the way (most of which I did not see). Their set of disappointments is at least a mile long. But they have been life and joy to so many.
This morning, up in the rainy mountains of Mussoorie, Mum had a birthday breakfast with Dad.
I don't think our card arrived in time to be added to the goodies Mum prepared for the 'birthday boy' (hopefully Asha and Enoch's handiwork will have made it through today). But though we are far away from our parents, our thoughts and prayers were with Dad as he stepped into this new year.
Dad has lived a good life. And he is still actively living it!
We are so blessed to have this Godly man as our father and friend.
A hymn comes to mind, one that was sung by the Jim Elliot and Nate Saint and their friends before they went to meet their Maker. The third verse summarises much of Dad's life - one that with God's help he has been faithfully living out:
We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”
We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
Dad,Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
We thank God for you. We love you and are blessed by all that you are and all that you are becoming!
Happy Birth Day!
pictures courtesy Christa Eicher and the wonder of the internet which allows me to post something that took place this morning in Mussoorie!Small update:
Mum ended the day in the same celebratory way that she started it: she took Dad out for a dinner date at Rokeby's
Here is a shot of the two young love birds:
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