A Special Family Reunion
Posted on September 4, 2007
Filed Under Personal |
My dad turned 95 on Sunday.
We celebrated by gathering together the vast majority of his family for a short reunion. They came from Florida, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Idaho, Oregon, and Colorado. We filled up our house and overflowed to the outdoors. We filled the camper trailer and my brother-in-law’s pick-up camper. My niece had to sleep in a tent.
Although they started to arrive on Wednesday and some will not depart until next Friday, our main focus was the Sunday afternoon birthday party. We had the traditional balloons and stuff, but the greatest part was when we wheeled Dad around to the back yard where we had a bench set up for the “family picture”. Each family member then came up to Dad, gave him a hug and offered their personal words of affection: from children to grandchildren to great-grandchildren. It was a great moment for a man who had lost his parents at a very young age and was eventually left to fend for himself. Now he was receiving the affections of a family that gave him the love he didn’t get growing up.
We then gathered around him and sang the old “happy birthday” song with great gusto. Dad’s face beamed with joy and tears ran down his cheeks.
Proverbs 17:6 says that “grandchildren are a crown to the aged” and my Dad was wearing his crown Sunday afternoon as he looked slowly around the family circle gathered at his feet. Surrounding him was the fruit of the Lord’s blessings.
Keeping the family together has always been important to him because he was familiar with what the other side of the fence felt like. So, we try to get together at least once a year…which gets increasingly more difficult as marriage and children and employment add a nearly impossible complexity to the mix. Coordinating everyone’s calendar is pretty much an impossible task now.
But this year, nearly everyone was there and we finished up by attempting a minor miracle. Yesterday we caravanned to the mountains for a picnic in the 
woods and a hike to an 11,000 foot peak. I took a picture to document that we really got to the top, so here is a portion of the Tackett clan. You will notice that 1-year-old Kate (in the middle) made it as well.
Family is important and I hope you make it a priority in your life. As best you can, strive to make times like this happen, because they won’t on their own. In fact, the busyness of life and the natural flow of the world will pull you in the opposite direction. Don’t let it.
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8 Responses to “A Special Family Reunion”
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Dr. Del Tackett is president of the Focus on the Family Institute and Senior Vice President to Focus on the Family. He is also the architect and chief spokesperson for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project--a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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I love this family story. It makes me want to do as you say and make these sorts of events a priority. It makes me sad to think about the poor family heritages my husband and I came from and what we have already missed. We don’t want our children to miss it too.
Dear Dr. Tackett,
I have recently started to follow your blog and absolutely love it. The way that you honored your father was genuinely moving. What a special day. It is my dream as I can imagine many men’s dream to leave a Godly legacy; to live a life that means something. To do battle and hold the line of righteousness for our family namesake and the example of those who follow us.
I appreciate your ministry and am hoping to get to a truth conference someday. When are you coming to CA? I direct an intern program for a missions organization and know of several Master Commissions, intern programs, and bible colleges that would love to have you…and if there was a state in the union that needs TRUTH the most, CA has got to be it!
The true concept of family has become so diluted in this day and age and I find it refreshing to see a “true” concept of family still alive. So happy birthday to your grandfather and may God always bless you and your family.
Dr. Tackett I have a quick question pertaining to family. My apologies if I have choesen the wrong forum to ask.
I am currently going through your Truth Project series and have just finished lesson 7 were you talk about family in comparison to the Trinity. Before I go on I would like to first say that I agree with your teaching with all my heart everything you said plucks chords of truth in my heart as well as my mind. Now the question: Taking into consideration the above mentioned teaching, what would your comments be on
Matt 10:37, 12:46-50, 19:29, 8:22
Luke 12:49-53, 14:26
These have been directed at me several times to indicate that family is indeed not important to God. But that to truly follow God you must hate all else. I think it is obvious that the true meaning of these scriptures are being perverted. And I know that I but i just have no defense. My personal belief is that God has called me to my wife and children and us as a family to him and his Kingdom.
Thank You for your time,
Chris and family
Dear Dr. Tackett,
I cannot tell you how blessed I am to read your
entries! It is as if I have “come home” to read
of your every day life and realize there ARE still
people with values I had been taught. Your
reunion to celebrate your Dad’s birthday was
special and reminded me that my Mother has, for
the past two years, treated her 4 children and
spouses, to trips in celebration of her 80th and
81st birthdays. These will be two of my most
treasured memories of family times; and you’re
right, it does take work and purpose to get
everyone together, but what a blessing and honor
it is to those who are a part!
Dear Dr. Tackett:
What a special time to treasure with your family. I am sure this was such a blessing to your Dad. I do hope your Mother has been able to come home and was well enough to enjoy this with you all! They are still in my prayers regularly. Now that both of my parents are gone and my siblings are about as scattered as yours, it is even harder to plan times like these. I will however remember this special encouragement and continue to try and see that we do.
God bless and thanks for the great picture!!
It sounds like you had a very nice Labor Day weekend. My entire weekend, I had to work at my television job of 27 years. My church will start a weekly series on the The Truth Project starting September 23rd. I was very fortunate to be invited to join my pastor, the youth pastor, a couple elders, and a retired (he’s busier retired than when he was pastoring) pastor. I was baptized last year and I have been a member of the Milan Christian Church in Milan, IL. Your series has been just the tools to help build my spiritual foundation. I thank you and God for allowing me access to this series.
Please forgive me for going off the subject, your work has made me a fan and your family ties are inspiring in this day and age. Your blog on the red moon and the miracle of God’s grace is understandable on how you got chills that evening.
I wish to leave the stress and negativity of my job to pursue a more family friendly career where I am not forced to choose between my family and my job.
Take care and all the best!!
Dr. Tackett,
Please come to chattanooga and teach the truth project course.