His Greatest Honor

Yesterday was such a wonderfully exciting day for our family.  
The local radio station had chosen Dw to be 
honored as Father of the Year
unbeknownst to him or us!  
For those who were able to hear the broadcast, they heard my 
tenderhearted husband receive the news.  
It was so precious.  
They heard him chuckle as only he can.  
And they heard him start to cry over and over and over as friends 
from across the world honored him.
And no, he wasn’t just surprised, he was SHOCKED! 
 He had wondered why Fareed had to interview him while he 
was in Uganda, and why it would take an hour.  
Little did he know!!
Dw actually said, “Wow, normally all the nice things are said at 
someone’s funeral the person who has passed away never 
gets to hear everyone’s kind comments and yet here I am able to hear it for myself.”  
Some of the people honoring him included:
 Dw’s accountability partner and best friend, 
Nick {who pastors in Montana}.  
People who we pastored in our last pastorate including a
 youngish couple {Jeff and Jenny} who now serve on the
 mission field in Nicaragua {thanks to Dw believing in them!}.  
Tom and Dane {who both serve with their wives as elders at the River church}.   
A friend, Stuart, who has known Dw since 1976.  
Nate, a  young man who runs {with his wife Erin} a local ministry on our college campus here.
A “son” of ours, Seth, who along with his wife Maria, moved to Virginia to mentor under us.  They then came with us to Colorado to serve as well.  They now are church planters in San Francisco. 
Staff here at the River church, our kids and I were also all part of the honoring.
I think there was a total of 30+ people who honored Dw.  And the things people said?  Well thought out and heartfelt.  Off and on throughout the show I started to cry as did Dw.  
Such sweet words for such a Godly man.
I was telling a friend last night, “I do hope there was no one who was jealous of this honor bestowed on Dw.  If there was, all they need to do is be a dad to 15 kids {so far!}, having adopted 12 of them {5 big ones in Africa}, serve on the mission field ministering to orphans and pastors as often as possible, be 56 and in the process of bringing more home, be a man of integrity, grace and Godliness – and they will surely get the honor as well!
Anyway, I do have to tell you something comical.  I spoke to  Fareed after it was all over and I told him that I had put it on the blog.  He said, “Well we had so many people sign on from the internet – it almost crashed our server.  Ooopsie!! That would be you guys – and I laughed and laughed!  
Lastly, Fareed did tape it.  So when I get a copy, I am praying that I will be able to have our tech team at church upload it to the church’s website and those who missed it can listen as well.  
That man of mine is now in Ghana with Emma and he will be doing a Pastor’s Conference there now as well as working in orphanages there.  Please Knee Team, continue to pray for them as they serve.  They will be gone another week {making it a total of 3 weeks}.  
And then that Father of the Year will be hanging around with us for awhile. 
Off to continue preparing my sermon.  
I am speaking tomorrow.

14 thoughts on “His Greatest Honor

  1. That's just so beautiful, may it open the doors for younger men to follow in the footsteps of Dwight, to please the Lord in all that he do. May they receive wisdom, counselling and advice on how to do this. May the Lord stir their hearts through Dwight.

    Thank you for sharing, Linny 🙂

  2. Hi Linny,
    I think I've only commented on here once or twice, but yesterday, I plugged in my earphones and listened to the entire broadcast while at work. Wow! Besides all the wonderful comments about DW, one of my most favorite things was actually HEARING the voices of you, DW, Graham, Emma, Liberty, Autumn, and Sarah- people I have never in my life met, but have come to "know" through the blog. As weird as this may sound, it made the whole thing (your blog, your writings, your life, etc.) so much more real! I mean, obviously, you guys are real people writing about real things, but something about hearing your voices, hearing people speak who know you personally, etc. just made me realize y'all are for real! Haha, silly as it is, it made my heart happy. Thank you for letting us in on it (and so glad we didn't crash their server)!! 🙂
    ~Charity in Texas

  3. Dearest Linny – I was unable to connect yesterday, so I didn't get to hear the broadcast. I was so disappointed. Thank you for updating us on how beautiful it was. I so enjoyed reading all about it. What a precious man your husband is – and you, and your beautiful family. And yes – the Knee Team is praying, Always Praying. :))

  4. So awesome, can't wait to hear the broadcast!!!

    Linny I'll be praying with the knee team for DW and the team.

    Can you please cover me in prayer. On Friday I am moving from CA back home to reunite with my husband in TN. We've been praying for reconciliation with my son Brock. I am so very thankful I was able to attend his gradution. I have been praying for reconciliation before I move. I am trusting God will work this all for good.

    Yet my mama heart is so sad, I'll be so far away, clear on the other side of the country. I will be coming home to CA every two months to spend time with my granddaughter and older son, and soon hopefully Brock.

    Blessings to you!
    suzanne

  5. I got to hear this while I was visiting Nate and Erin this weekend for the wedding of another girl on staff with us! 🙂

    I was just flipping through the radio stations and heard someone say "Dwight Saunders" I was like 'HEY! I know that name!'

    So I listened and got to hear the sweet surprise! It was so cute at the end too hearing all your precious kiddos telling their daddy how much they love him! (Too bad there wasn't enough time!!)

    I'm sure you and Dw are thrilled! And I can think of nobody more deserving!

  6. I am so glad that you let him out of the crawl space for the this trip to Africa..
    That could of been SO embarrassing….LOL

    congratulations to DW he so deserved this honor…:o)

  7. That is wonderful! I usually have kpcl on 24/7 and I have been so busy we haven't turned the radio on.. I am sorry I missed it! What a blessing 🙂 Still so glad I got to meet you all!

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