Dr. Mike Murphy
As his dad entered the diner, he looked at his face as if he had never seen it before. A face he had seen all his life, was a face he seemed to be looking at for the first time. He noticed the gray and balding that was continuing to come his hair. And he noticed the wrinkles that were starting to form. Wrinkles, he was sure he had placed there through the years. His life had not turned out the way he had planned. And if was far from the life his father had wanted for him. At seven, his mom had passed after battling for weeks with pneumonia. But despite the devastation of the lose, his father had always been there. Each day as he grew up, his father made sure he had all he needed for school. Was there loyally at each football and baseball game he had ever played. And each Sunday, his father was always up early, to make sure they were both ready for church. Through the best of times and the worst of times, his father had always been there. And as he grew into his teenage years, those “worst of times” had come far more often. To say he had grown to be rebellious would be an understatement. So often finding himself in trouble as a teen, and so often turning to his father in need of help. And as the years continued, the rebellion did not cease. He went into the military as a young man in search of escaping all his problems, only to find it had brought to his life even greater problems. Problems that had shamefully lead to a dishonorable discharge. As he made his way back into society, he did nothing but carry those problems with him. Problems that soon found him in even more trouble, and problems that soon found him serving time behind bars. And each time he saw trouble raise up its’ ugly head, he had asked his father to met with him, over lunch, to talk. To apologize to his father, and to ask his father for help in getting through each of those problems. In the eight months since he had gotten out of prison, he had looked to get his life back on track. Blessed to be able to find a good job, and blessed to find a girlfriend that had far more to offer him that the trouble that had always found him. A woman, who each day demand more from him. And who each day, he could not imagine hurting by bringing trouble into his life again. But as he sat there that day, watching as his father entered the diner, he bowed his head, because he knew he soon had news he had to tell his father again. As he made eye contact with his father, the biggest of smiles came to his father’s face. And soon, he found himself again in the familiar embrace of his father’s arms. As they sat at the table, passing small talk, and placing their order, he knew he could no longer put off the news he had called his father to the diner that day to tell him. “Dad, I asked you to join me for lunch today, because I have some news I need to let you know about.” As his father heard these words, the events of the past all came rushing back. All the times of sadness and disappointment he had experienced each time his son had asked him to join him at this diner. And as he came this time, he had prayed that what he would see was a change. Not a repeat, of all he had seen before. “Chris, what has happened this time? What trouble have you gotten into now? So often I have prayed for you, that the Lord would find a way into your heart and guide you. So many nights I have worried about you. Not knowing if the trouble you have always found, would lead to the moment I would never be able to see you again.” As Chris bowed his head, his father continued. “There is so much I want for you. And there is nothing I would not give up for all to come to you. But Chris, I just do not know if I can do this again.” As Christ heard the words, he sat in silence. A silence that seemed to last a lifetime. And as a lifetime passed, Chris slowly began to raise his head to speak. “Dad, there is not enough time in a year for me to tell you all the apologies I owe you. Not enough minutes in the day for me to tell you just how sorry I am for all I have put you through. And I am so sorry for the sorrow you now feel here today. I just wanted to get with you, as I have something I want to give to you.” As Chris finished the words, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small envelope addressed to his father. As he placed it in his father’s hands, his dad held it unsure what to do next. Unsure of how a small envelope could make this situation any better. “Before you speak again, would you please just open it, Dad.” As he heard the words, Frank looked again at the small envelope. With each glance of the envelope. time stood still. He began to lift the flap from the back, only to find a small, white card placed inside, with a few simple words written on it. Simple words, that brought tears to his eyes as he read, “This is to personally invite you Sunday to the baptism of Christopher Ryan Smith.”
As Frank sat in that diner with tears growing in his eyes, he heard his son again speak. “Dad, I know tomorrow is your birthday, and I could not think of a greater gift to share with you than to personally invite you to be there as I let the world see, I have given my life to Christ. Happy Birthday, Dad!”
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