Dad; Now that I am older, I have a much better idea of all the sacrifices my Dad made when I was growing up. He worked hard for a small wage; had to continually search for his tools that us boys would use and seldom return to their proper place; was forced to limit his portions at meal time due to five children; and was challenged to hear his favorite shows on TV when our noise level exceeded the volume. I am thankful for a lot more since I am able to look at him through the eyes of a father. I am thankful for his patience; his sense of humor; his work ethic; his personal skill set and knowledge base for how things worked; and I am thankful that he showed his children how to do things and why they needed to be done a certain way. But mostly, I am thankful that he is not like so many other dads that selfishly abandon their families. He never left us; he was always there. I used to struggle when I could see areas where he might have fallen short of the definition for being an “Ideal Dad,” but now, knowing my own shortcomings as a father, I can see him as a wonderful man with a huge heart. We all fall short of God’s glory, yet we all possess hundreds of God’s positive qualities and characteristics as well. No matter how tall I grow, no matter how old I become, my Dad will always be someone I revere. I will always look up to him; even though he may not always be able to stand. There has always been something especially deep about the man I call my Dad. He may, on the surface, appear hard and stern, but deep inside him beats a heart that values family and that yearns for the joy of relationship; which is the very essence of the God of Heaven. Although he doesn’t always respond perfectly, he certainly maintains a core of love deep in his soul. One thing that always inspired me about my Dad is that he is a big guy. Physically he has always exhibited the majesty of a mighty tree, but in spirit he still fills a room with his presence as he enters. I remember how his charisma seemed to spark awe and respect in all those who were present. Although his physical stature has declined somewhat with age, he is still as big as a mountain in my eyes. I never had to fear the world when my Dad was present. There is something that makes a child feel safe when he knows his dad can deal with anything that life throws his way. There are so many words written that promote what a real father should be, but generally a real father bears a lot of scars from too much worry and stress. The expectations of unrealistically high standards often cause the “real Dad” to appear nearly incompetent. The real Dad often goes un-praised and unnoticed in his endeavors to meet the family’s needs. Yet, he is the most valuable asset of the family system. He is charged from Heaven to take the weight of the family upon his shoulders and carry it for a lifetime. That is his roll, and it is all too often a thankless one. One of the greatest gifts that God ever gave me is my Dad. On this Father’s Day, I gladly take this time to say; thank you Dad. I love you very much and will love you forever.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:17:17 +0000
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