THE MYSTERY MAN

Gloria Phifer

I was 10 years old before I knew about “the mystery man”. I had a father that I didn’t know existed. He lived in California. And, from what I understood, I had not seen him since I was 3 yrs. old.

My mother told me she never loved “the mystery man.” Later she told me I looked like him and I reminded her of him. (Most of my life I would wonder how she really felt about me.)

In my young mind I told myself that “the mystery man” surely cared about me. Although my mother told me he did not.

Someday I would venture out and find “the mystery man.” I imagined someone who really did love me and had always wanted to know me.

When I was older, my uncle told me more about “The mystery man.” It seemed they were good friends. My uncle told me my father was a good man. He owned his own business and that he didn’t drink. Now this news about drinking was very important to me because alcohol was an enemy to me. My mother had become an alcoholic. Although, no one could speak of such a thing. It was a forbidden rule.

My day dream persisted to meet “the mystery man.” I was 19 yrs. old. In November I would be marrying.

 My mother received a letter from my grandmother….”The mystery man" had died the year before.” He had a massive heart attack at 41 yrs. of age.

So what do you do with a mystery man that you will never be able to meet, after you have day dreamed about him for years?

Warren Kenneth you will always be a mystery to me…even though I am told I resemble you. Were you a kind person? Did you ever think about me? Was there ever a time you wanted to see me?  

You remain a mystery in my life that will never be solved here on earth. I pray that in Heaven you will be there and you will be a mystery no more.

I have found a Father Who is not a mystery to me. I know He loves me and cares for me. I know I resemble Him because He made me in His image. He will never abandon or leave me. He meets all of my needs and He understands and knows all about me. He and I talk every day. He wants to hear my voice. He wants to be with me.

 And so I have given up wanting to know what could have been. Maybe I was kept from the mystery because it would have hurt me.

I am safe with my Heavenly Father...

I have found The Father Who loves me as His Own. He will never leave me or forsake me. So, I climb up in His lap where He holds me secure. The Father Who always wanted me from the beginning.