Nancy Allred: Father's Day

The Allred siblings at Spencer and Gentry's wedding - September 2015

On this Father's Day, I want to pay tribute to my four children, Spencer, Benjamin, Rebecca, and Preston, who took care of each other, and also took care of me all during their growing up years. Though they were so blessed to have amazing grandparents, and wonderful aunts and uncles that loved them and supported them, still it was on days like Father's Day, that the emotions could come to the surface, and were often very difficult.

As the years came and went, I prayed constantly that somehow there would be forgiveness, healing and love for my children on this wonderful path of life. In the last few years of my former husband's life, the sweet forgiveness, that came as a gift from heaven, began to enter the hearts of my children as, one by one, they renewed their relationship with their dad.

As Spencer and Gentry were married in 2015, and we became bonded to the wonderful Rynearson family, and then as Ben and Lindsay were married in 2016, and we became bonded to the wonderful Bayles family, so many blessings have been felt by all. Though there is still healing, growth and understanding ahead, God is mindful of all, and there is also love, acceptance, and hope.