Many of you may not know, but my father, the founder of Hand in Hand Ministries, is retiring at the end of November from his job as a Sheet Metal Mechanic after 30 years of hard work.

My father has shown me what it means to be a hard-working, committed employee even through the hardest of times. This doesn't even come close to the extraordinary examples of the Christ-centered husband and father that I grew up with.

For the majority of my life, my father has worked for the same company despite better times or worse. He has gone into work everyday earlier than I like to wake up.

In the winter, I heard the tires on his truck spinning as he made multiple attempts to get out of the driveway. Occasionally, we saw where he worked and I heard the machines running and saw the sparks flying as people welded.

We saw the plans he drew up which always seemed like fun puzzles he got to design. I remember stories of fellow employees and bosses who made it difficult for my father, but whether he had to respond with firmness or kindness, I believe that people have always recognized my father as a respectable, Christ-loving man. As my father gets closer to retirement, it seems that he has to work even harder than ever, but he continues working diligently as he counts down the days.

At home, my father demonstrated that same hard-working ethic. He mows multiple acres of grass, he plants and tends the gardens, chops wood for the fireplace, fixes vehicles and attends other repairs that need fixing.

Colossians 3:22-24 (NIV)

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Despite all the hard work, my father has never shown my family anything but love. I could mention the times he helped with homework, put up a basketball hoop, made masterpieces through wood-working or danced with me on my wedding day.

(I loved when my father would take us grocery shopping because we got all kinds of good snacks!)

More importantly, my father is always there to lend guidance and comfort when I have difficult decisions to make. These are the moments that leave a big imprint on my heart. And as my siblings and I reached the age where we searched for individuality, my father has always responded with love no matter how harshly we spoke to him. I know that without God's love, our family would be very different and I am so grateful to my parents for raising us in a Godly home.

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)

4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

My father is a great representation of

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

With people like my dad, I think we, as their children, have some insight into the love of our Heavenly father. Think of the love you have for your parents, your own children or anyone who has demonstrated this type of love to you and imagine the sacrifices you would make for them.

John 3:16 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I can only imagine the love that God has for us, his children, to give his one and only son so we could be with Him forever. He passes no judgment, no prejudice, no anger. All He has for us is joy, peace, kindness and love. Isn't it wonderful that we are all welcome to this fatherly love for eternity?

2010 Webmaster

Email: Jaime Teichmer

Hand In Hand Publication is a outreach ministry of Word of Life Ministries. An Internet Ministry of Faithful Christians joining hands together all around the world, for the sole purpose of promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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