A treasured possession tied up in love
- kirranicolle
- Sep 7
- 3 min read
BY DEAN SIMPSON
I have a favourite tie. Most men my age do. It’s not a typical tie, and I can ensure no one else has one similar.
Recently, I turned up at a function wearing one of my usual ties, and three other blokes were wearing the same design. I should have worn my favourite one!
To be honest, my favourite tie isn’t my preferred colour or style and doesn’t seem to match any of my clothes, but I’ll never throw it out.
It is, of course, a Father’s Day tie. A tie I received on Father’s Day in 2011 from my then five-year-old son and eight-year-old daughter. It is made from cardboard, decorated with a spaghetti-like array of Texta colours, and has a ‘Love one another’ sticker in the centre. Handily, it includes an elastic string for easy application.
Ironically, my son asked his big sister to write the heading at the top, but she inadvertently included an extra ‘r’ – ‘Farthers Day 2011’. There is also a heartfelt message written on the back, full of praise for my virtues as a father, ranging from my tendency to say ‘yes’ while their mum says ‘no’, my superhero strength when throwing them into the pool, and my ability to break wind on cue. The message is handwritten with similar spelling mistakes and scribbled corrections.
Despite this, the tie remains one of my most cherished possessions – no doubt because it was crafted with all the love, care and devotion that my young children could muster.
I remember putting it on and making a big fuss when they excitedly gave it to me. In fact, I wore it to church that day and kept wearing it every Father’s Day for the next few years. My children were chuffed each time.
By around 2020, the tie was starting to show signs of wear and tear (and my children were in their late teens), so I stored it in the bottom drawer of my bedside table because I couldn’t bear to throw it away. But even to this day, once a year on Father’s Day, people in my church congregation ask me why I’m not sporting my one-of-a-kind tie!
I might be persuaded to wear it one more time this Father’s Day – just to embarrass my 23-year-old daughter and 20-year-old son!
God’s gift to us
Receiving that tie from my children all those years ago gave me a glimpse of how God feels when we acknowledge him with our attention, our devotion and, above all, the gift of our lives.
God doesn’t mind if our lives are as ‘flimsy as cardboard’, ‘full of scribbles’ and ‘spelt incorrectly’ – he isn’t bothered if our lives are a bit rough around the edges, a bit tattered and torn. He just wants our hearts and promises to accept us with his unconditional love.
Jesus said: “... unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Father God sent his son Jesus to earth as the sacrifice for all our sins. It was the greatest gift to humankind. All God desires in return is the gift of your heart, and he will reward you with the gift of abundant life, both now and into eternity.
