In many ways I believe I have lived a full life. I’m now over 70
years old. “The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of
strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon
gone, and we fly away.” [Psalm 90:10]
Yes, Jesus Christ deserves my biggest thank you; my wife the second
biggest. But, I’m thinking mostly of my sons now.
Psalm 128 says:
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in obedience to him.
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity
will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within
your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your
table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the
LORD. May the LORD bless you from Zion; may you see the
prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. May you live
to see your children’s children— peace be on Israel.
This past Mother’s Day my three sons surprised me with a retirement
gift. It caught me off guard. I was thinking we were all together
concerning a gift for my wife, their mother, Johnnie. My oldest son,
Jeremy, brought an Amazon box with part of the gift for Johnnie. I
quickly brushed aside the other items in the box to get to the part
that was for her. We discussed her gift, and how we could surprise
her with it. Jeremy and my other 2 sons finally gave up about me
asking about the other contents in the box. So Jeremy plainly said
the other items in the box was my retirement gift. It was a
Leatherman multi-tool. He pointed to the engraved part, which read
“From your sons, for a lifetime of good work, Harry Rockefeller, Psalm
128”. I am reminded of my own Mother’s favorite expression: “God has
been so good to me”. I’m sure Max Lucado could express in words my
emotion much better than I can. In that moment pride, thankfulness,
and prayers for my sons’ futures, flooded my soul. Thank you Jeremy,
Toby, and T.J. Love, Dad.