Daddy, Dad, Papa, Father,
the names we have for our own,
the names our own call us.
So much bound up in one little word
for the man we invest with our trust.
“I’ll fix it!”
Baby, if you only knew
how new you are to me.
But how complicated can you be?
Just some biology, right?
Honey, where’s her mute button?
She didn’t come with one?
She’s fed.
Her diaper’s changed
I’m sooo tired…
“I can fix this.”
What kind of homework do you have?
A project?
When is it due?
Tomorrow morning?!
Okay, let’s get started.
The school dance?
She’s not that old!
She IS that old?
How did she get that old?
“I can’t fix this.”
High School, maybe college, a job, her own baby
and the cycle’s complete.
Like shampoo, rinse, repeat
and I still can’t get any sleep.
“God, help me fix this.”
A grandfather?
I can’t be that old!
I AM that old?
How did I get to be this old?!
One day I’m carrying you,
the next you’re holding me.
And in a flash life happens,
filling the pages in between.
God, our perfect father,
If we’re wise, we look to you first
To help us raise little humans
at their best and at their worst.
There is a book, after all,
though dads are loath to read instructions.
But first things first, can you help me
find my reading glasses?
©Joel Tipple
#6/16
Write here, Joel. 
Joel….. WOW! You did a great job at putting this together for Father’s Day. Thank you so much of sharing this with us. You have an awesome gift!
As you so wonderfully expressed it today, Pastor, we are family. One of the great joys of my life is sharing this journey with my church family.
When we are hurting, we share that to heal. When we are full of joy, we need to share that as well. I suppose I should say. “we get to share.” What God has allowed me to do is a privilege and honor. I never forget that.
Another gem, Joel. Thanks
You’re welcome, Judith. I’ll have to let you know before I deliver the next of these so you can hear it!
Very inspiring
Thank you!