Thank God for Fathers …
Especially our Heavenly One!
Obedience = Blessing. This was something I learned from my father … but, uh, not my earthly one.
You see, my earthly father kicked me out of the house when I was 21 and I was bitter … until I became a Christian at 23. God’s first directive? Love your father. “But I can’t,” I argued, “he physically and emotionally abused me, and I hate him.” “Love him,” came God’s response. Groan. “But how?” I whined, “when I don’t feel any love for him?” “Just do it, Julie,” God persisted, “and I’ll put the feeling there.”
All righty then. So I did the only thing I knew to do—I repented of my bitterness and prayed for my widowed father diligently. And then I put feet to those prayers by taking homemade beef stew (his favorite) once a week and watching TV for an entire evening without talking except for commercials. When I left each night, I would hug him and tell him I loved him, but he would never say he loved me nor hug me back.
Repentance-Prayer-Action. I was relentless … until lo and behold, I found myself looking forward to our evenings even if it meant watching The Untouchables in total silence. A word here, a smile there, and pretty soon the “untouchable” became touchable. “Good night, Daddy, I love you,” I said months later with my usual hug. “Good night, Julie,” he whispered, his arms slow and awkward as they inched around to hug me back. “I love you too.”
Obedience = Blessing. One lesson. Two fathers. Infinite blessings.
Hugs and Happy Father’s Day!
Julie
TUES., 6/23/15, 6-9:30 EDT–TIME FOR TEA & ROMANCE!!
Join me, Carrie Turansky, Melissa Jagears – Author, MaryLu Tyndall, Tamera Alexander, Gina Marie Welborn, and Carrie Fancett Pagels for a TIME FOR TEA & ROMANCE tea party, where you can chat with each of us on Facebook and win WONDERFUL prizes from each of the authors in addition to a grand prize. My giveaway is signed copies of my Heart of San Francisco trilogy, a cable car tin of Ghiradelli chocolates, and a $10 Starbucks gift card, and that’s just my prize — each of the authors have their own PLUS a grand prize of a beautiful Tea for Two Set with teacups and saucers, table cloth, tea, chocolate, and scone mix.
NOTE: THIS IS A PRIVATE PARTY, SO TO BE INVITED, SIMPLY GO TO MY FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE AT JULIE LESSMAN’S FACEBOOK PAGE OR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING AUTHORS’ FACEBOOK PAGES AT THE LINKS GIVEN ABOVE AND REQUEST AN INVITE, AND WE’LL SEND YOU ONE, OKAY? HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
NEW RELEASE!!!
Grace Like Rain, a novella about Blake “The Rake McClare” from the Heart of San Francisco series is available NOW in the WITH THIS KISS HISTORICAL COLLECTION, which includes novellas by award-winning authors Mary Connealy, Pam Hillman, Cara Lynn James, Julie Lessman, and Ruth Logan Herne for ONLY $2.99, so here’s the link!
WITH THIS KISS HISTORICAL COLLECTION
ON SALE!!
A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW IS ON SALE ON KINDLE FOR ONLY $1.99! My Irish love story, A Light in the Window—winner of three awards—is over 80% off right now, so please take advantage! Here’s the video my hubby did for A Light in the Window with my daughter as the model for both the book and video, so take a peek. ALITW Video.
SALES ON THE FINAL BOOKS IN O’CONNOR FAMILY SAGA!! HUGE savings on A Heart Revealed & A Love Surrendered, so check them out!!
