Beautiful, moving, perfect for us all, to recognize and appreciate that immeasurable gifts from our Father in Heaven come in the simplest packages; a smile, a memory, the appreciative sight of his creation realizing it is from His hand to us.
I give God the glory recognizing the gift of your work Joe, is yet another gift from God, raising our recognition of the source of all that is good and true, our Father in Heaven.
I pray God blesses you in kind as He blesses us through you Joe. You're just a conduit for his love as are we all. I look to the day when we all share the love of Christ carried in these clay vessels. What a new Jerusalem it will be.
Joe, this is a heartwarming story. I couldn't finish it before I had to grab kleenex. Your Father was a blessing to you, and you have been a blessing to him, as well as us. Have a great birthday with your family.
Great word my friend. My pastor recently said in a sermon that we will be judged by how we are stewarding our talents. Do not fret or worry about what you have done up to this point but now moving forward use the talents he has given you whatever it is. Just like you said, use your gifts what he has blessed you with and do it with joy to your utmost ability!! Amen! 
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story Joe. What a blessing to have a dad like him!
I'm sure you are the son of his heart.
I see and appreciate your "encourage" gift. I see "cour" in that english word and think of "couer" - the french word for heart. And that fits <3 You communicate from your heart and my heart responds to your words.
My gift? I'm good at conveying complex information - making it simple. Thanks for asking.
Spot on as usual! Both my parents in stages of dementia and trying to find those “gifts” ! with my dad, fishing is the ticket ! Still working on finding something with my mom thanks for reminding me to cherish the small things! Thanks as always!
Thank you Joe. What a beautiful story of love. You obviously have any great gifts and sorrowful times too, that teach us. Happy 50th birthday!every day is a gift!!love, your sister in Christ
Beautiful piece Joe 🤍 God Bless you guys and have a Merry Christmas 🎄…
Let’s be mentally strong in 2024!
Since the Great Awakening, I have a lot more conversations with God, I truly see the truth now how things have become as they are and I am thankful to God to be included…and cherish all the simple things and memories I have of my own family. I am at peace …
I have precious memories of my Mama, who also suffered with Az/Dementia. I was blessed to be able to spend every day with her for 10 years until the Lord took her home 6 years ago, this October. I would never have thought that spending that time with her would have brought me the most amazing God-moments and sweet gifts of time with her, but He did it and I can never thank Him enough. One Fall day, we were sitting on a wooden swing outside her and Dad’s house and I was “being still” and listening for a word from the Lord. Mama grabbed my hand, eyes closed and let out a huge, beautiful sigh of peace and joy. It was then that I heard the Holy Spirit say softly, “You will have many days with her like this in Heaven.” I was a new. true Believer and did not know if she’d truly accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior after I walked her through it earlier in her walk with dementia. I always felt she had…its just written on her life…but this was an amazing gift from Him to me that day. One I will never forget. This was a beautiful sharing of your life. Thank you for sharing, Joe. May God give your Dad peace as he continues on this journey…and you as well.
Wow, the joy in gifting is definitely due (to the person gifting). “Let me help you” these words are gold. “No thank you” these words dim the light. Joe, I’m glad you wrote about this as it’s very important to consider, it’s not polite to ask for things our parents taught us, yet how impolite it is to say no when offered? This kind of got swept under the rug. Who would have thought?
I’m thankful you were gifted with a father. I was similarly gifted with a mother. She was a some gift, Brooklyn NY raised, a Catholic girl complete with the accent. The female version of Trump, God decorated my gift special, a female Trump. Yes!!
Enjoy your birthday and Father’s Day! Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s going to sit with me all day. We are blessed!!
I too have a wonderful stepdad. He is actually my second stepdad. My first stepdad was cruel and mean spirited. He was extremely heavy handed with a belt or strap or whatever he could get his hands on in the moment. He always left welts and bruises. So when that marriage fell apart, my mom married my dad. I had only met my biological father twice. Like yourself I didn’t have a real knowledge of him. Anyways, my papa has never raised a hand to struck me and he’s kind and loving. He renewed my faith in men. I too am grateful for God sending him to us. It seems we have several things in common. Thanks again for your encouraging story. You do it so very well
Thank you again for the gift of your voice. You reminded me that we don't always have to be so strong. We can let others share their gifts with us--their love and care which comes from our heavenly Father.
I was reading this and yelling at you Joe: "dont do it again, dont make me cry again."
To write and elicit that kind of emotional response means you are hitting your marks. I love it!
Beautiful story Joe❤️ thank You. Happy birthday 🎂 🥳 have a Great day and God bless 🙏 🙌✌️
Beautiful, moving, perfect for us all, to recognize and appreciate that immeasurable gifts from our Father in Heaven come in the simplest packages; a smile, a memory, the appreciative sight of his creation realizing it is from His hand to us.
I give God the glory recognizing the gift of your work Joe, is yet another gift from God, raising our recognition of the source of all that is good and true, our Father in Heaven.
I pray God blesses you in kind as He blesses us through you Joe. You're just a conduit for his love as are we all. I look to the day when we all share the love of Christ carried in these clay vessels. What a new Jerusalem it will be.
Ready? He's coming !
with love in Christ Jesus,
Joe Weikel (aka jbweik)
Joe, this is a heartwarming story. I couldn't finish it before I had to grab kleenex. Your Father was a blessing to you, and you have been a blessing to him, as well as us. Have a great birthday with your family.
Joe Lange, you are a gift. Yet once again you have brought tears to my eyes. God bless you
Great word my friend. My pastor recently said in a sermon that we will be judged by how we are stewarding our talents. Do not fret or worry about what you have done up to this point but now moving forward use the talents he has given you whatever it is. Just like you said, use your gifts what he has blessed you with and do it with joy to your utmost ability!! Amen! 
Thank you Joe. We live by God's grace alone.
Just beautiful Joe. Great lesson for us all.....
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story Joe. What a blessing to have a dad like him!
I'm sure you are the son of his heart.
I see and appreciate your "encourage" gift. I see "cour" in that english word and think of "couer" - the french word for heart. And that fits <3 You communicate from your heart and my heart responds to your words.
My gift? I'm good at conveying complex information - making it simple. Thanks for asking.
Blessings friend
Spot on as usual! Both my parents in stages of dementia and trying to find those “gifts” ! with my dad, fishing is the ticket ! Still working on finding something with my mom thanks for reminding me to cherish the small things! Thanks as always!
Thank you Joe. What a beautiful story of love. You obviously have any great gifts and sorrowful times too, that teach us. Happy 50th birthday!every day is a gift!!love, your sister in Christ
Beautiful piece Joe 🤍 God Bless you guys and have a Merry Christmas 🎄…
Let’s be mentally strong in 2024!
Since the Great Awakening, I have a lot more conversations with God, I truly see the truth now how things have become as they are and I am thankful to God to be included…and cherish all the simple things and memories I have of my own family. I am at peace …
I have precious memories of my Mama, who also suffered with Az/Dementia. I was blessed to be able to spend every day with her for 10 years until the Lord took her home 6 years ago, this October. I would never have thought that spending that time with her would have brought me the most amazing God-moments and sweet gifts of time with her, but He did it and I can never thank Him enough. One Fall day, we were sitting on a wooden swing outside her and Dad’s house and I was “being still” and listening for a word from the Lord. Mama grabbed my hand, eyes closed and let out a huge, beautiful sigh of peace and joy. It was then that I heard the Holy Spirit say softly, “You will have many days with her like this in Heaven.” I was a new. true Believer and did not know if she’d truly accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior after I walked her through it earlier in her walk with dementia. I always felt she had…its just written on her life…but this was an amazing gift from Him to me that day. One I will never forget. This was a beautiful sharing of your life. Thank you for sharing, Joe. May God give your Dad peace as he continues on this journey…and you as well.
Wow, the joy in gifting is definitely due (to the person gifting). “Let me help you” these words are gold. “No thank you” these words dim the light. Joe, I’m glad you wrote about this as it’s very important to consider, it’s not polite to ask for things our parents taught us, yet how impolite it is to say no when offered? This kind of got swept under the rug. Who would have thought?
I’m thankful you were gifted with a father. I was similarly gifted with a mother. She was a some gift, Brooklyn NY raised, a Catholic girl complete with the accent. The female version of Trump, God decorated my gift special, a female Trump. Yes!!
Enjoy your birthday and Father’s Day! Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s going to sit with me all day. We are blessed!!
I too have a wonderful stepdad. He is actually my second stepdad. My first stepdad was cruel and mean spirited. He was extremely heavy handed with a belt or strap or whatever he could get his hands on in the moment. He always left welts and bruises. So when that marriage fell apart, my mom married my dad. I had only met my biological father twice. Like yourself I didn’t have a real knowledge of him. Anyways, my papa has never raised a hand to struck me and he’s kind and loving. He renewed my faith in men. I too am grateful for God sending him to us. It seems we have several things in common. Thanks again for your encouraging story. You do it so very well
Thank you again for the gift of your voice. You reminded me that we don't always have to be so strong. We can let others share their gifts with us--their love and care which comes from our heavenly Father.