I am so glad I have an earthly father, then papa Bill Roberts, daddy Jim Shipley, brother Paul Graca and my loving husband Olufemi in my life!
Fathers’ day to me is any day that one of these men comes to mind and as you can imagine, with the number of them; it is everyday!
My daddy was an amazing man, he not only fathered ten of us, but he also raised so many other kids that called him baba.
Then I have some other amazing men of great impact in my life
These men have different roles that they played in shaping me into who and what I am today.
Like most little girls that grew up with unsurpassed affection, my dad was unequalled when it came to providing for us, loving us and rolling in the sand with us. He was baba to so many even to grown adults when I was growing up; especially to the young and newly weds who always stayed with us whenever things got tough on their journey of life. I still think of you daily papa, I anticipate that day when I will see you again at the feet of Jesus!
Then I have papa Bill Roberts, my American dad. I nicknamed him The Liberator. He thought me to see everyone needing to be liberated. He didn’t let anyone harbor low self-esteem under his pastoral leadership, because he always sent someone to lift somebody up. You think he didn’t see someone because he was busy on the pulpit on Sunday, but on Monday morning, he would send a minister, an elder, a deacon or anyone of repute to a someone that needed help that he saw in church yesterday! I wondered how he did it as I watched how he cared for the less privileged. He gave resources in his custody to support the poor and afflicted. He always instructed me to not ask questions when giving away foods or monies to the poor. One day I asked him why do we not ask questions, and he said “because people have pride, and their children may go hungry if they have to explain why they can’t provide for their family”. He initiated me into the lifestyle of COMPASSION by reinforcing always that “compassion is deed” not just feeling. He fathered three amazing biological children, yet gives himself to so many people of varying backgrounds to call him dad. He made me feel wanted when no one believed in me, he entrusted the outreach ministry of his church to my care. Many lifelong friends that I have today were made during those years of intense ministry with so many people from different denominations in Prince William County. Papa Bill is a man of his word, if he says he will do it, you can take it to the bank; he will see to it that it is done. He never left anyone unsure of himself under his care. He often told me that I will be successful in America, and always told me to never forget where I came from! (a pronouncement of blessing that follows me till date)! He understood what it means to be a shepherd. I salute you papa Bill, and THANK YOU FOR YOUR OBEDIENCE TO THE CALL TO BE DAD TO SO MANY!
My dad Jim, fixes everything that breaks! He is a man of very little words but of great action. Whenever he came around, there is always a sense of security that all will be well. I love you dad, and thank you for adopting my family!
My big brother Paul is the unsung prophet. He never wants to be acknowledged for his many good deeds, but he was instrumental in the live birth of one of the most beautiful young ladies that is making strides on earth today. My daughter Paula was named after him, and I owe you a life of THANKS for all you are to the kids that God brought to your “village”! I join Stephanie, Sarah, Olamide and Paula and all your grand children in saying Happy Father’s day!
Lastly, the man from whose rib I came, my better half Olufemi. You have and continue to provide the very best for your family. Through many distances, you have lived up to and beyond the call to be the best father you can be to our children. You promised me that your children would not have college debt when we first decided to have children, and you lived up to your promise. I will say yes if you asked again at Badagry beach. I love you honey, and thank you for not giving up!
I am blessed to have more than one man to call my dad, as do my children. I am also aware that many people are not privileged to have not even a dad, even though it takes a man to create a child. So if you are one of those that do not have a dad at home, I am thankful that you have a heavenly Father who is The Father of all fathers, and He will never leave nor forsake you.
It could be difficult for some to accept this submission, but trust and believe that not one of the exceptional men that I described as my daddies above can measure up to the Father who loved you and I so much and gave up His Son to die on a rugged cross just so that you, our earthly daddies and all who call to Him may be saved.
If you are experiencing a vacuum created by the absence of a father today, my heart aches with you; as you can see, the first dad that I knew has long gone away from this world to be with his maker, he left me and all my siblings and all those village kids that he helped raise to answer the final call; so he is not here anymore!
My suggestion to you is to look for a father that you can call on by going to the Father that does not require telephone before he can be reached, so He may direct a good daddy to you. He has many of them tucked away on the pews of churches on Sunday, waiting to be approached; just like my dad Jim, many of them do not say much; but they can do plenty. Or like my brother Paul, they are waiting for a widow in the church to say hey, have you met Johnny, he needs a mentor for them to begin speaking greatness into your life because many of them are prophets that hate to boast of their abilities. Better yet, He may direct you to the likes of my Olufemi, who will give up his comfort to see to it that your tuition is paid in full so when you graduate you don’t get saddled down by loan repayments. You may even be picked up by the likes of my papa Bill, whom when he makes a call on your behalf, doors of opportunities open for you, because he has made the Lord his habitation and whatsoever he looses on earth is loosed and whatsoever he binds gets bound.
This is what my Father in heaven has done, he gave me many fathers and I am not ashamed to say I have MANY DADDYS.
Happy Fathers day to all good fathers! May the Lord give you courage to hate sin and lead your families to the throne of grace daily! May you continue to be the head and never the tail and may the blessings of the first-born son be your portion always!
-Bridget
unisouthwest 