This afternoon my wife and I will be homeward bound. At least we’re headed to Northern Ontario, Thornloe-to be precise, the area where I was born and raised. It’s been 3 years since we moved from our family farm to Oshawa, where God has brought us into a new chapter of our lives.
I love the trip North. Once you reach North Bay, the gateway to the North, my excitement starts to build. Familiar lakes and trees, familiar bridges and communities begin to remind me of the wonderful years God allowed me to experience as the youngest son of a pastor/farmer/bookkeeper/shall I go on…. My Dad was a Northerner. Although he spent time during the war years working at Stelco in Hamilton, he spent the majority of his life in the North. In 1942, June 17th to be precise, he and my mom “tied the knot” in Matheson at the Gospel Hall. Even the grandchildren still marvel at the years of “courtship” done mostly with the assistance of Canada Post. His longest letter, if I recall correctly, was over 40 pages. There is something romantic and thrilling about crafting such a document. Now we use post-it-notes, short e-mails and a quick call to communicate. But in Dad & Mom’s relationship they wrote carefully out their thoughts, prayers and deep love for each other.
Both of them are now in heaven having finished their journey on earth. I miss them dearly and still grapple with God’s command to “Honour your father and your mother.”
As I head north today I honour their memory, their love, their faithfulness, their careful use of money, their hospitality, their generosity but most of all their unwavering faith in God and in His word.
My prayer is that of the hymnwriter – “O give us homes, built firm upon the Saviour!”
My desire is that of Joshua – “As for me and for my house, WE WILL serve the LORD!”