 Hello
Friends:
Well… I wrote about Mothers last month, so I better
write about Fathers this month! I am blessed beyond
measure to have wonderful and faithful parents who
have shown me in word, and action, and priority, the
Love of God! I hope Bethany and I can be ½ the
parents they were and are!
My Father has taught us more by example than
anything else. He has shown us that God, making all
of us In His Image, gave us the ability to be
resilient. Dad has exercised that God-given
Resilience (a limited form of transcendence that
allows us to rise above our environment/
culture/background) throughout his life. Dad was
born with Cerebral Palsy in 1944, this effected him
in such a way that his left arm and right leg have
some paralysis. When dad was 5 years old my
grandparents took him to Shriners Hospital in St.
Louis, where surgery and physical therapy were
provided so that dad could learn how to walk. Even
though he had to stay there for many months and did
not receive visits from his family because of
hospital policies/instructions (this was very hard
on my father… he still talks about it today), dad
thrived and went home much stronger than when he
left.
Dad found that some within his community made
assumptions about him based on his physical
appearance. Even a grade school teacher from Oreana,
IL insisted that dad was incapable of learning and
she didn’t want him in her class. Thankfully my
grandparents met with that teacher and informed her
that he could take instruction just as well as any
other child and dad showed that teacher that he
could learn! That God-given resilience kept on
revealing itself!
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When dad graduated high school he had
some choices to make. He loved living and helping on
the farm but wasn’t sure that he could farm as a
career due to his physical limitations. He decided
to leave the farm and move to Chicago and attend art
school (The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts at the time
located in the Oriental Theater Building on Randolph
Street). His parents were pretty worried about him
and didn’t understand why he had to leave the farm.
They wrote him every day and hoped that he would
come back home to stay. They could not understand
how anyone could make a living other than in
farming! Dad continued to be resilient and creative.
He worked hard and continued to surprise his family
even in the midst of their well meaning skepticism.
Dad graduated from art school, moved
back to the Decatur area and started Edgecombe
Studios. Over the years he has created some amazing
photographs, recognizing beauty in the world around
us. He has been a faithful husband, father,
provider, and follower of Christ. He is a great
example of the resilience of God’s children due to
God’s grace and mercy.
Who are the godly men in your lives that you need to
honor this Father’s Day? Tell them what they mean to
you. If they are “gone from your sight,” tell
another friend or family member about them and how
much you love them. In all cases spend some time in
prayer thanking God for that person.
Blessings,
Ryan Jay Edgecombe
Broadwell Christian Church & The Christian Village |
