I miss my Daddy and yet on Father's Day, as much as he loved his family, he would not want to return. As well as he enjoyed us spoiling him the entire father's day weekend with cookouts and special dinners out and showering him with gifts, he would not like to come back. Daddy is in heaven and has been for 8 years. The fact that he has been gone from us this long does not make Father's Day any less painful for me. Daddy was my friend and the only man in my life that never disappointed me. He introduced me to his best friend, Jesus. Yes, Jesus was his friend and he wanted to share Him with not only me but the entire family, entire community and the world. Daddy was a preacher and a pastor. I did not know him when he was not a preacher because he accepted his call to the ministry when he was only 16 years old.

Daddy wanted only the best for us. He made sure we were well fed for sure and he made sure we learned the importance of sharing with others. It is because of Daddy that holidays are so special to our family. He would cook while singing, then Mama would sing with him and we would join in. Sometimes in the middle of cooking, he'd have to stop to go see about a church member who was in trouble or sick. He was well traveled too. Rev. Griffin, conducted revivals all over the country and went to conventions and conferences each year. In 1979, He made the trip of his dreams. He went to the Holy Land. I am smiling now thinking of the picture of him on the camel.

When Daddy got ready to retire, he wrote about his experience as a Pastor and he included these words that he also wanted in his obituary: "I live for those who love me, Whose hearts are kind and true; For the heaven that smiles above me, And awaits my spirit too; For all human ties that bind me, For the task that God assigned me, For the bright hopes yet to find me, and the good that I can do." That pretty much summed him up!

I miss him, remember him and thank God for the 45 years we spent together loving, laughing, learning. His legacy of love, his leadership and his luminous visions are etched in my memory and in my heart.