My Dad

Dad celebrated his 70th Birthday last week by having a lovely lunch with some of his closest friends, then joined us later in the afternoon to have dinner and cake. We bought him a digital photo frame and put loads of family pictures on it for him. Now I just need to help him get their mission photos on their too and he'll be all set! To finish of his birthday, my dad went out home teaching and last Sunday the wife of one of his families got up to bear her testimony and talked of the struggles she had faced through the week and how the visit of her home teachers (to cut a long story short) was basically an answer to her prayers. I looked at Dad sitting in the row in church with us and was so thankful for such an example of selflessness that he would take time on his special day to serve and show love to others.
Dad has received another special calling that will be of great worth to him and to those whom he will bless. He was sustained tonight at as the Patriarch of our Stake. For those of you not of my faith reading this, Patriarchal blessings are given to worthy members of the Church by ordained patriarchs. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her Patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection.
Rachael and I have felt for years that Dad would be the next Patriarch and were always teasing him about it, so when we heard we weren't too surprised at his new calling. The Lord has blessed my Dad over the years with the ability to be very close to the things of the spirit with his gentle way, and I know from personal experience of being the recipient of blessings and hearing others be blessed through him, that he will be able to be a mouthpiece for the Lord to give those who will come to him seeking a Patriarchal blessing from Heavenly Father. Well it's also no surprise that Dad is feeling the enormous weight of the calling. My Mum was saying to me this morning "There is no hiding behind this calling." She is right, ones life must always be in order and close to the spirit in order to fulfill such a calling. But as I said to my Mum, that's why the Lord has chosen Dad, he leads his life in such a way that he'll always be ready to act in the office as Patriarch. It's my hope he lives long enough so that at least some, if not all of our children will receive their Patriarchal blessings through him.