A Father-Daughter Adventure II

A few weeks ago I told you the story of Richard and Joanna Barb’s cross-country, father-daughter adventure to acquire a canary-yellow 1972 Volkswagen Squareback. I didn’t tell you the whole story because Joanna didn’t know it yet and I didn’t want to ruin her surprise. When her dad was injured and they were not able to drive her new car back to California, Joanna was not upset about not having a car. Her emphasis was serving the Lord. She went to Mexico and helped build a widow’s house. She did children’s work. She didn’t selfishly pressure her Dad to get her a car.

Until today (Tuesday) she was on a missionary trip to Romania. I had not communicated with the family since they left Flint, but I had heard that the car was not running yet. For some reason a few weeks ago I remembered the story again. When I called Richard told the story of how they had just gotten the car back on the road. Today, when Joanna returns home to California, her car is waiting for her. The very hour she left town to fly to Romania her brother David, contributing his own money, and her father Richard began to work to find a rebuilt engine and the other parts needed to get the car running for her.

Richard is convinced that the Lord provided the engine and other parts needed to get Joanna’s little yellow VW on the road. He believes that God cares deeply about helping fathers express their love to their daughters. I agree with him. If you have a son or a daughter what do you have to do right now that is more important than showing them your love? In the years to come what memories of your love will they cherish?

Ken Pierpont
March 21, 2006
South Campus Indianapolis, Indiana