I grew up without my father for most of my
But in my young life, receiving sustained, positive male attention was much like trying to quench your thirst by sticking your tongue out in a rain shower. Rain is fleeting and sporadic, so you will often be left wanting and parched.
So, it’s not surprising that I lacked a good and godly male example who would nurture my spiritual development and guide me in the way that I should go on a daily basis. Indeed, it’s difficult to be what you didn’t see. And I was in a bit of a crisis.
My mother probably sensed this deficit in my life, so when I was about 13 years old, she gave me a special assignment. Once a week, I was tasked with spending the night with my maternal grandfather. You see, my grandfather had a unique special need. When he was in his mid-40s, his muscles began to atrophy to the point that he eventually lost his ability to walk and control his limbs. So he spent his days in a big recliner that was elevated on a platform in the living room of his home. And since my grandmother worked nights, people took overnight shifts to care for him.
Now, my grandfather was a godly man of prayer who had been a Christian pastor before he was disabled. But since he was chair-bound for my entire young life and we lived far apart, I rarely got to spend private time with him. So, this “assignment” from my mother was really a special time for me.
