In Baptist churches, during an ordination service, other ordained deacons and pastors come to the candidate for ordination, and “lay hands on him.” While placing their hands on the one being ordained, they will then pray for him.

The night I was ordained there must have been 30 or more deacons and pastors present. I knelt at the front of the church as each one prayed over me. Tears flowed during that time.

I did not recognize all of the voices praying for me. But one stood out. When my dad spoke to me, just before praying he said to me, “Always remember Proverbs 3:5-6, and live your life according to its words.”

Later that night I looked up the reference. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not upon your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.”

A strong, yet gentle reminder that we must depend on the Lord. None of us is able to go it alone.

Since that day, Dec. 27, 1981, I have tried to follow my dad’s advice. God has been so good. He has directed my paths, even during those times when I have not trusted him with my whole heart.

Too many times I have leaned on my own understanding. But as Paul wrote to Titus, “When we are faithless, he is faithful, for he cannot deny himself.”

What a great God we serve!

Recently I was going through some of my dad’s things. I found the Bible that was given to him when he was ordained as a deacon in 1962. Written in the flyleaf was the reference, “Proverbs 3:5-6.”

It would seem that he was passing on to me what someone had passed to him.

I am thankful for a dad who has always pointed me toward the God of all creation. I am even more thankful for a heavenly Father who has walked with me every step of life.