I CALLED HIM
“Abba”
by: Renee Sesvalah Cobb-Dishman
WHEN I THINK ABOUT FATHER’S DAY, I think
about the principles of wisdom, protection,
support, a safe place, a provider, a nurturer, and
a friend.
He didn’t go to church, but he lived by spiritual
principles. He responded to situations in life by
listening to that still small voice inside of him.
He would help anyone who needed help, and as
the saying goes, he never met a stranger.
Whatever name you call him, Abba, Father,
My mother worked as a domestic and
Daddy, Dad, Poppa Papi, or Pops, the image that
should come to mind is one that exemplifies therefore money was not always as plentiful
as we would have liked. I mention that because
courage, trust, strength and love.
there were a lot of times when our cupboards
My mother was a single parent of five children were pretty bare. We didn’t have a phone, only
of which I was the oldest. There were some the corner phone booth (does anyone remember
significant men in our lives who had a positive those?). At the lowest point in our lives, we would
impact on us. Unfortunately, my father was not hear a knock at the door. When we answered,
one of those men. He didn’t have the pleasure there stood my godfather who seemed more like
of getting to know me. He left my mother before Santa. Instead of holding a bag of toys, he held
I was born, but God the creator sent us a ram bag of groceries and all of the things that we
in the bush. His name was Clarence Cubie, my needed at that time. No one had taken a trip
outside to booth to call him and my mother was
godfather.
just as surprised as we were. This occurred many
My godfather was not a religious man but he times throughout my childhood. He would show
was a spiritual man who was in tune with his up when I needed money for school, new shoes
“I Am” presence. I don’t think he was aware of or a ride to the doctor. He was so in tune that
it or he definitely would have acknowledged it. once I had this little boy come over, my godfather