Jonathan because of his illness lived the last 12 years of his life like a prisoner. While his siblings and friends reached that age where they lived their lives coming and going as they pleased Jonathan was home bound because of his illness. Because of this he was able to see behind the curtain (Wizard of OZ) as my many failures and inadequacies as a person, a pastor and a patriarch became all too obvious, yet he was still able to find and follow the footprints of Jesus out our door and all the way to Heaven.

Some months ago I heard a touching story about a pastor whose young son had become very ill. After the boy had undergone an exhaustive series of tests, the father was told the shocking news that his son had a terminal illness. The youngster had accepted Jesus as his Savior, so his father knew that death would not hold the final say and instead will usher him into Glory; but he wondered how to inform one in the bloom of youth that he soon would die. After earnestly seeking the direction of the Holy Spirit, he went with a heavy heart through the hospital ward to the boy’s bedside.

First he read a passage of Scripture and had a time of prayer with his dear son. Then he gently told him that the doctors could promise him only a few more days to live. “Are you afraid to meet Jesus, my boy?” asked his father. Blinking away a few tears, his son looked up to him and said, “No, not if He’s like you, Dad!”

I am preparing for yet another Father’s Day at Immanuel United Church and suddenly I was hit right between the eyes that this will be the first time in at least 22 years or so that I will not hear “happy father’s day” from my oldest son, Jonathan. As I was reading this sermon illustration I came to the conclusion that this young boy’s salvation experience was very different than my son’s in that Jonathan was old enough to realize the fact that Jesus is not like me, at all.

Jonathan because of his illness lived the last 12 years of his life like a prisoner. While his siblings and friends reached that age where they lived their lives coming and going as they pleased Jonathan was home bound because of his illness. Because of this he was able to see behind the curtain (Wizard of OZ) as my many failures and inadequacies as a person, a pastor and a patriarch became all too obvious, yet he was still able to find and follow the footprints of Jesus out our door and all the way to Heaven.

I just want to tell my other children that I thank God for them and for the God entrusted privilege that I have in being a part of their upbringing. I also would like to ask their forgiveness for my many failures in living up to the high bar of manhood which Jesus set and matched. I also join with them in thanking God for giving them so magnificent a mom to offset my failures.

I love you all and am thankful for your being so long suffering with me as made evident by the fact that you still call me, dad. Happy Father’s Day and please keep your eyes fixed on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith.

Charlie Baldini is a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and is pastor of Immanuel United Church in Staten Island, N.Y.