With Father’s Day just past us, I’ve been thinking about my Dad, and his Dad. I’m the third-generation male Waters to live in Canada. Before that, they were all in the UK, seemingly coming from the area now known as Chatham, but from one of the towns that now make up that city, the town of Gillingham.

On our Ontario trip, we took the Division Street exit at Kingston and headed north 6 kilometers to Memorial Gardens. There are a number of changes to the cemetery there, but Jesus is still standing with his arms outstretched, and at the base of his feet is the grave marker of my grandparents. Arthur and Alice Waters – Salvation Army officers for many years.

I find it amazing to think that Grandpa Waters was born in 1887! Queen Victoria was on the throne and celebrating the 50th year of her coronation. Sir John A MacDonald was the Prime Minister of Canada. McMaster University was founded in 1887. Canada’s 5th parliament was sitting.

It was a different time for sure, and I was reminded lately that little in his life would be shared in mine except our faith, our names, and the country we live in. Man’s first flight would not happen for another 16 years in 1903, when Alice was born.

Arthur Waters landed in Hamilton, Ontario, upon coming to Canada, and with his wife would become Salvation Army officers in January of 1916. All these things come to mind when I think of him.

Meanwhile, Catherine made her annual trek on Father’s Day to the marker of our Dad’s resting place in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Her tradition is to take a coffee and some tim bits and to spend a bit of time quietly on Father’s Day. She also sent this picture of some of the other SA leaders buried in this row.

The Waters are not a big family. One son to Arthur and Alice, one to Arthur and Margaret…not like some families who have 4 or 5 or more sons!

One final image. This is well known and comes from a potent story told in Matthew 9. The artwork hangs in the home of Terry and Cath. It says so much about grace and mercy and power. I think I could preach on this text for a year. Thanks for hanging it Terry and Cath!