SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
Re-post I would like to re-post this from 2017 – It’s still relevant today
Another Father’s Day dawns this morning. As someone recently said, it’s such a pity that in today’s world of TV and comedy, fathers are portrayed as clueless and laughable. How are our boys and young men going to grow up to be the strong men of God that we want them to be, when that is their example? I am so glad that my father, my brother, and my husband grew up in times when men were, indeed, strong men of God, and spiritual leaders in their household.
And how are our girls and young women going to grow up, thinking that all the boys/men in their lives are luckless creatures – only to be tolerated? In watching the TV programs that are out there now – unfortunately including some of the current Disney programs – adults in general, and men in particular – are portrayed as stupid and ignorant, while their teenagers – and younger – are the “smart” ones. It just ain’t so, folks!
And since that was a rather depressing way to begin this post, let me get back to the men in my life who were strong believers in God and Jesus Christ, and were able to be strong, safe, places for me.
Let me tell you about my own father.
Mother, Father, Bill and me – 1952
I’ve written other posts about my father (June 16, 2013; June 15, 2014; September 28, 2014) and the influence he had in my life. He was gone quite a bit – traveling around the state – but I always knew he loved me, and I looked up to him.
Daddy getting ready for one of his trips – 1959
He was, indeed, the spiritual leader in our household. He always took us to church with him, and our family life revolved around church and our belief in God.
Daddy, me, Mother, Bill – 1956
Fred’s father – a second father to me after Fred and I married – was dedicated to God and His work in this world.
Charles Wills – Chaplain – 1951
Charles Wills – Base Chaplain, Tyndall AFB, FL – 1951-1955
He was a pastor for a while, but then most of his life was doing God’s work as a military chaplain. And yet, with all that work, he was devoted to his family. He, too, was the spiritual leader in his family.
Charles and Kitty Wills – 1950’s
Fred and I both look back on our lives, and are so grateful that each of our fathers-in-law treated us like their son or daughter. I never felt out of place in Fred’s family, and Fred has said so many times that my father enjoyed him as if he were another son of his. We were so blest to have that in our lives.
And because of that, Fred grew up in a household that showered him with love – family love and God’s love. He grew to be a self-assured man that I am proud to call my husband. He taught our girls what a true man – a gentleman – is like, and what they should expect from their spouses.
Fred, me, Karen and Janet – 1976
And my brother, Bill, grew up in a household that taught him how to be a true man of God, as well. He gave his children God’s word, and the strength to be what God wants them to be.
Bill, DiVoran, Billy, Charlene – 1985
Both of our girls have married men who are strong personalities, and are dedicated to the Lord. We pray for each member of their families, as they begin to have families of their own.
Brian,Savannah, Forrest, and Karen
On our 50th wedding anniversary cruise to Bermuda May 2011
Hannah, Janet, Tom and Connor – October 2022
There is a scripture that helps with this:
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Tags: #amblogging, Blessed, Christian bloggers, Christianity, Faith, Family Life, Father, Father's Day, God
In the middle of the crowded NRB convention, I stood beside Nick Vujicic and faced him. “Can we take a picture together?” I asked him.
Old Things R New 