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Father’s Day is only a few days away. I’ve taken time to remember my dad. He died almost two years ago and I miss him very much. I’ve been looking through a few memories of my father: sheet music, recordings of him playing the cello, photos, personal audio memories he shared with me.

My father had some wonderful sayings. Some should not be repeated – they will remain private memories. Some are my recollection of the way he spoke. These include “hearing” in my head his voice saying, “Cal [he shortened my first name], can you get me a cup of black coffee please?” And some display his consummate effort to achieve professional excellence as a cellist. His philosophy of cello practice is summarized in his comment, “I don’t practice until I get it right; I practice until I cannot get it wrong.” These – and many others – are forever etched in my memory.

My father encouraged me to succeed. When I was a young preacher, he told me to speak clearly and use excellent grammar. When he told stories, I learned a little of how to communicate with timing, pause, and emphasis. And because of his voracious appetite for knowledge and insight, I understood why wisdom and learning are important.

The opening chapters of Proverbs show a father's longings for his son. More than anything, the father longs for his child to grow in wisdom, grace, integrity, honesty, and trust in God. Listen to just a sample of this in Proverbs 2:1-11:

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

What memories do you have of your father? Good fathers long to see their children become wise, thoughtful, kind, and loyal. As you listen to this devotion, take a few minutes to recall ways your father encouraged you. Give thanks to God for him.

And if you are a father, take a few minutes to consider how you can encourage your children today – perhaps a phone call, a prayer, a gift, a listening ear, an invitation to go out together, a story to share, a word in their ear to say, “I love you.”

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

再過幾天就是父親節了，我花了一些時間來懷念我父親，大約兩年前他過世了，我非常想念他。因此我翻閱了些有關我父親的記憶，樂譜、他演奏大提琴的錄音、照片、及他跟我分享的錄音。

我父親有些很棒的話-有些不能重複-那是我和家人私人的回憶。這包括他對一些樂團指揮或表演的意見。這也包括在我腦中”聽”到他的聲音說” Cal, 可以請你幫我倒杯咖啡嗎?” 還有一些人展示了他在大提琴家職業生涯中為實現專業卓越而做出的完美努力。他對大提琴練習的哲理總結在他的評論中，”我不會一直練習，直到我做對了;我一直練習，直到我做錯了。”這些及許多其他的話—將永遠銘刻在我的記憶中。

父親鼓勵我在我所做的事情上都能成功。當我還是年輕的傳道人時，他告訴我要說話清楚，並使用出色的文法。當他講故事時—他有很多故事要講—我學會了如何選用說話時機、停頓和強調來溝通。也因為他對知識和洞察力的貪婪慾望，我明白了為什麼智慧和學習很重要。

箴言的開頭幾章表明了父親對兒子的期望。最重要的是，父親渴望他的孩子在智慧、恩典、正直、誠實和對上帝的信任中成長。聽聽這位父親的渴望。箴言2：1-11說：

“我兒、你若領受我的言語、存記我的命令、側耳聽智慧、專心求聰明．呼求明哲、揚聲求聰明、尋找他如尋找銀子、搜求他如搜求隱藏的珍寶、你就明白敬畏耶和華、得以認識　神。 因為、耶和華賜人智慧．知識和聰明都由他口而出．他給正直人存留真智慧、給行為純正的人作盾牌．為要保守公平人的路、護庇虔敬人的道．你也必明白仁義、公平、正直、一切的善道。智慧必入你心．你的靈要以知識為美．謀略必護衛你．聰明必保守你．”

我不知道你對你父親有什麼記憶。我相信，好父親渴望看到他們的孩子變得聰明、體貼、善良和忠誠。當你聆聽這篇靈修時，我邀請你花幾分鐘時間回憶一下你父親是如何鼓勵你的。為他感謝神。

如果你是一位父親，花幾分鐘時間考慮一下你今天如何鼓勵你的孩子—也許是一通電話、一個禱告、一份禮物、一個傾聽的耳朵、一個一起出去的邀請、一個故事的分享、或是在他們耳邊說的一句話-“我愛你”。

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum

(The music in the background is my father playing the opening cello solo from Rossini's "William Tell Overture" recorded with the New Philharmonia Orchestra of London in 1973.)

(背景音樂是1973年父親在倫敦New Philharmonia交響樂團開場的大提琴獨奏)