“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land (Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV).”

Yesterday, when riding past a house, I saw a man out in his front lawn. He was a man at rest; sitting on a wooden yard swing. I immediately thought of my Dad. After retiring, my parents moved from New York State to South Texas and rented a two bedroom house. Not long after, he hung a wooden yard swing outside the kitchen door.

Dad had a special attachment to that swing; it went where he went.

After several years, they downsized to senior citizen government housing. There, heavy chains held his swing securely from a big tree out front. Time was slipping away; Mom developed cancer; devoted to her, Dad faced an unknown future. She died just a few weeks after surgery. This time he had to give the swing away. Dad went back home, back to Upstate New York.

He found comfort and support from my sisters and their families. When enjoying visits at my younger sister’s home; he sat on her back porch on her yard swing. Dad had good company. A lovable dog sat on his lap as he watched birds and playful squirrels scampering along porch railings. Dad’s burdens were lighter.   

“Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 ESV).”

Published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Devotions for the Deaf, The Secret Place, Coosa Journal, Mary Hollingsworth's The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Jo Krueger's Every Day in God's Word. http://www.pamforddavis.com
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