Old Things New

TRANSFORMED, from broken to beautiful

Navigation
  • Home
  • Painted Furniture & Misc.
  • Tutorials
  • Abortion Story
  • Freedom Friday Posts
  • Funny Stuff
  • My (Our) Story
  • Freedom Session Website
  • Contact

Freedom Friday – Tribute to a Less Than Perfect Dad

June 14, 2016 by Patti 33 Comments

My Dad.  He was a tough man, sometimes very tough on us kids.  He was a perfectionist but not perfect.  Perfectionists never are and this failure to “measure up” frustrates them which often overflows in anger.  This I know.  That anger is rooted in fear of never being “enough.” 

My dad’s own upbringing was pretty rough and he wanted better for his kids than what he’d experienced, so when we screwed up, and he blew up, it was because he was afraid that we would settle for less than the best.  No matter what, we all knew that he loved us deeply.

Poppy's Tea Cart 4

Welcome to FREEDOM FRIDAY – A devotional, emotional, spiritual and sometimes hysterical series that I will be sharing on occasional Fridays, in addition to my regular Old Things New posts. Why?  Because though once bound in chains Christ has set me free –  FREE to live, to love, to dance, to sing, to be who God created me to be!

Late in life the tough dad became the soft-hearted dad.  Mesothelioma, the result of years in the construction field working with asbestos, tried to claim his life.  It did in fact claim the lives of every single friend and co-worker that received the same diagnosis.  My dad though . . . he had a praying wife . . . and praying friends.

Surgery, chemo, loss of hair, skin and bones, we entered church that day and sat to listen to the speaker.  I don’t recall what the message was about but I do remember afterwards standing in the church foyer, waiting in line with all the others to shake the hand of the guest preacher.  I was probably anxious to get out of there because in my late teens church was the most boring place I could spend one of my precious weekend days.

Poppy's Tea Cart 2

This day.  It was different.  When my dad’s turn came to shake this preacher’s hand the man asked him the simple question, “Can I pray for your healing?”

Now my dad had received lots of prayers before and during surgery and chemo but this was different.  I wasn’t raised in a charismatic church so it wasn’t the norm for me to see hand-laying healing prayers.  My dad was ready.

The Preacher prayed.  My Father received what was offered.  The Heaven’s shifted.  My dad walked away from church that day believing that he was completely healed of cancer.

Popppy's Tea Cart 3

From that time forward my dad grew stronger.  He eventually returned to a healthy weight, his hair grew back black, not the gray color it had been prior to the cancer.  After a couple of years he became so much stronger that he and my mom bought a mini farm where they tended a large garden and raised beef for the family.  There he also took up woodworking in his little shop out back and learned to build beautiful furniture from sticks of wood.

My dad’s harsh heart became soft like a child’s after this very personal encounter with God.  Jesus’ touch that healed his body also healed the wounded places of his heart and for that he was forever grateful. He had such a special relationship with his Lord in fact, that he would stand at his workbench praying and blow kisses to Jesus.  I believe that in working with wood my dad identified with Jesus the carpenter and that seeing a block of wood transformed into a beautiful creation reminded him of what Jesus had done in his own life.

Poppy's Tea Cart 6

After that time, I never saw my dad sit through church without tears spilling from his eyes and down onto his cheeks.  He was forever grateful that God had restored the wasted years of his life and Joel 2:25 became one of his favorite verses of Scripture.  He lived fifteen more years and saw the birth of all of his grandchildren.  He loved his family with a passion and prayed that all would understand the transforming power of Jesus in their lives.  It wasn’t about following rules, or being good.  It was ALL about a personal, kiss-blowing relationship with the Creator.  Experiencing firsthand His healing power then loving Him because He first loved us.

My dad’s relationship with Jesus and the fullness of his life after his healing is the greatest legacy he could have bestowed upon his family.  Now as I work with my hands, just like my father, making broken things beautiful, I have decided that I will take up my dad’s torch.  As I see transformation taking place beneath my hands I too will lift my fingers to my mouth, stretch my hands toward the Heavens, and blow kisses of gratefulness toward the Redeemer of my soul.

Lord, thank You for the life changing transformation I was allowed to witness in my earthly Father.  Thank you that his and my mom’s prayers were answered as you also redeemed, set free and delivered me.  Thank you that you are at work in the hearts of all my father’s children, grands, and great grands, to bring them to a place of KNOWING you in the deepest places of their hearts.

Poppy's Tea Cart 1

Poppy’s Tea Cart

“Our children will serve Him; future generations will hear the story of how God rescued us.”  Ps. 22:30 The Voice

“The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.”  Ps. 16:6 NKJV

My Dad

Happy Father’s Day dad,

My Signature

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!
Sunday:

 TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, SundaysAtHome, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays, GiveMeGrace

Monday:
 IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory
Making Your Home Sing Mondays, The Beauty in His Grip What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking
Tuesday:
TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, Elizabeth&Co, CoastalCharm, CozyLittleHouse,  NaptimeCreations, CedarHillFarmhouse, KatheWithAnE,
VMG206, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles, Dream.Create.Inspire.Link, Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky,Time Warp Wife, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story
Wednesday:
SavvySouthernStyle, TheBlissfulBee, Posed Perfection, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, A Little R & R, Whole Hearted Home, Mom’s Morning Coffee, Women with Intention, Coffee for Your Heart
Thursday:
ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, FromMyFrontPorchToYours, ADelightsomeLife, AKAWeekendRetreat, ThoughtsOfHomeOnThursday, MakingBrokenBeautiful
KatherinesCorner, PrettyPreppyParty, YourTurnToShine, Serving Joyfully/Thriving Thursdays, The Deliberate Mom/Shine Blog Hop, I Choose Joy,  Live Free Thursday, Thought Provoking Thursday
Friday:
FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, RootedInThyme,  TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday,
  ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,
  Blessing Counters,Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Grace & Truth Linkup, Grace&TruthSharingRedemption’sStories, Dance With Jesus
Saturday:
FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

Save

Save

Save

Tweet

Filed Under: Christianity, Family, Freedom Friday, God's Grace, Re-purposing Tagged With: Christianity, Family, Freedom, Freedom Friday, God's grace, mesothelioma, Old things made new, Repurposing

OldThingsNew

I am Perfectly Imperfect Patti, daughter of the King, wife to the amazing Mr. OTN, mom to two grown daughters, a great son-in-law, and companion to two spoiled dogs. At Old Things New I share DIY’s, budget friendly home transformations, as well as posts about how God transforms our souls. I myself have been made new and I love to share what I’ve learned through WRITING and SPEAKING. To view a short Vimeo of “Our Story” (Mr. OTN and I) please follow the link at the top of the page.

Disclosure: Old Things New is a participant in the Amazon affiliate advertising program, which is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com . . . or, in other words, Shopping through my links helps Old Things New keep the lights on!

Search this site

Click below to:

Follow on Bloglovin

Click on icon below to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, & Instagram

facebook twitter pinterest instagram

My HGTV Tiny House Hunter Experience

My HGTV Tiny House Hunter Experience

Christmas Cloche Ideas

Christmas Cloche Ideas

Pottery Barn Knockoff Jingle Pillow

Pottery Barn Knockoff Jingle Pillow

Christmas Shopping Ideas

Farragoz Online Painting Course

Sign Up Now

Save

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

See what I’ve been pinning lately!

Color Washing Technique

Color Washing Technique

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinet Tutorial

Chalk Painted Kitchen Cabinet Tutorial

Three Chalk Paint Recipes Reviewed

Three Chalk Paint Recipes Reviewed

Fab Over 50 (or 60, or 70 . . .)

Fab Over 50 (or 60, or 70 . . .)

Love Fashion? Follow my Fab Over 50 Board on Pinterest!

Archives

  • December 2018 (2)
  • October 2018 (31)
  • September 2018 (2)
  • August 2018 (3)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • December 2017 (4)
  • November 2017 (3)
  • October 2017 (3)
  • September 2017 (4)
  • August 2017 (9)
  • July 2017 (7)
  • June 2017 (8)
  • May 2017 (9)
  • April 2017 (7)
  • March 2017 (1)
  • February 2017 (5)
  • January 2017 (5)
  • December 2016 (1)
  • November 2016 (1)
  • October 2016 (1)
  • September 2016 (3)
  • August 2016 (7)
  • July 2016 (3)
  • June 2016 (4)
  • May 2016 (5)
  • April 2016 (6)
  • March 2016 (7)
  • February 2016 (6)
  • January 2016 (9)
  • December 2015 (12)
  • November 2015 (11)
  • October 2015 (7)
  • September 2015 (3)
  • August 2015 (3)
  • July 2015 (8)
  • June 2015 (6)
  • May 2015 (1)
  • April 2015 (8)
  • March 2015 (10)
  • February 2015 (8)
  • January 2015 (7)
  • December 2014 (9)
  • November 2014 (7)
  • October 2014 (7)
  • September 2014 (3)
  • August 2014 (2)
  • July 2014 (5)
  • June 2014 (5)
  • May 2014 (4)
  • April 2014 (12)
  • March 2014 (7)
  • February 2014 (1)
  • January 2014 (3)
  • December 2013 (7)
  • November 2013 (4)
  • October 2013 (6)
  • September 2013 (6)
  • August 2013 (6)
  • July 2013 (7)
  • June 2013 (11)
  • May 2013 (8)
  • April 2013 (7)
  • March 2013 (9)
  • February 2013 (10)
  • January 2013 (6)
  • December 2012 (5)
  • November 2012 (2)
  • October 2012 (2)
  • September 2012 (2)
  • August 2012 (5)
  • July 2012 (6)
  • June 2012 (3)

Tags

Addiction Antiques and Collectibles Blogging Books Chalk Paint Chalk Painted Furniture Christianity Christmas Coastal Style Crafts DIY Drop cloth projects Entertaining Faith Fall Decor Flowers Food Freedom Freedom Friday Freedom Session French Country Friendship Furniture Painting Gardening God's grace Home Decor Home Decorating Hospitality Inspiration Junking Lakeside living Marriage My Home My Story old junk transformations Prayer Recipes Recovery Redemption Shopping southern living Spring Summer thrifting Tutorial

Fistbump Media, LLC

Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Blogger Boutique for Old Things New Blog

 

Loading Comments...