A Dad, a Daughter and a Butterfly
by
Betty Mason Arthurs
Father’s Day is coming and I love stories about fathers who have been involved in their children’s lives, bringing strength and loving care into every moment. My pastor, Andrew Cunningham, recently shared about a science project he worked on with his youngest daughter, Emma.
“I can’t dissect the butterfly, Dad, it’s alive!” Emma stared in horror at the insect her dad caught for a seventh grade science project. Andrew, a savvy father, had caught the yellow butterfly after a lengthy search of our Phoenix parks. Using a cheap net purchased at a dollar store, he had chased the “scientific specimen” as time and time again it fluttered away.
“Emma, don’t worry, we’ll kill it before you pull it apart.” He dropped the butterfly in a jar, “We’ll put it in the freezer and it will painlessly die, then you can dissect it.” It seemed Air Force veterans, like Pastor Andrew, are great at problem solving. A few hours later, Emma pulled the jar out, gently laid her butterfly on a paper towel and then yelled, “Dad, its legs are still wiggling!” Andrew made an “executive father decision,” and took Emma outside where they released the winged creature.
He told us during his Sunday morning sermon, “Emma has a sensitive heart. How could I demand she kill one of God’s creations? Surely there was another project she could do for her science class.”
The Bible gives fathers instruction about their children:
Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. Ephesians 6:4 (MSG)
I pray God will give us more sensitive fathers like Pastor Andrew.
Do you have a happy memory to share about your father? Will you share it with me?
Don’t forget to thank your father on this Father’s Day, June 18, 2017.
Allison Boley
Carol Boley
dgood648
Joy
Andrea R Huelsenbeck
Betty Mason Arthurs
Linda Carlblom
Peggy Levesque
tuesdayschildren100
Judy Robertson
Doing Life Together 
MY WONDERFUL DAD. . .
I can’t tell you how much I loved, respected and adored my daddy. He filled my life with joy (except for the few times he said “This hurts me worse than it does you! ! !” ) Yeah, he punished me, and I still don’t believe it hurt him more than it did me!. . .it hurt me bad. . .but I kept on loving my daddy!
My daddy loved to go out in the evenings and spot woodchuck and deer, so I always had to go with him. Also, he’d take us swimming in an old cow pasture creek. Oh what fun we had! Oh, and we’d go out in the evening to dig sassafrass roots; then go home and make tea. I guess folks liked it, but I drank it cause my dad did!
One day, we had a long talk about the man “I might” marry someday. I’ll never forget what my daddy said to me. He said, “Don’t you ever marry someone unless you are SURE you love him MORE than you love your old dad!” That was a huge order for me, but I must have been obedient, because my man and I have been married for 65 years next month! ! !
I STILL MISS MY DAD!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing about your daddy. Wonderful memories.
LikeLike