My Dad

I wanted to take a little post and say thank you to several of you who were praying for my Dad this past week. He is back home and back to his old tricks. Some of you know how he can be, huh? Back in the saddle as they say.

For those that don't know, my dad was hospitalized for a few days this week for some chest pains and some headaches. He is fine and the Lord gets the glory for his complete recovery. Amen! However, I find myself pondering a situation that thankfully, I haven't yet had to experience. The possible physical loss of a close friend or family member.

I don't want to be dramatic or anything, but when you receive a phone call with news on the other end saying there is someone that you love dearly is in an ambulance, I don't care if it is for a hang nail or dandruff, that is scary! Maybe it is scary for me because I live so far away from so many people I love or maybe it is because I haven't fully pondered what it would be like to lose someone that is that close to my heart and it comes as a shock. Now that things are fine, I have been thinking about my Dad and the things that he means to me.

My dad is like no man I have ever met.

I guess Dads are like that.

He is a distinct mix of hot and cold, of hard and soft, of weird and wonderful, all wrapped up in sacrifice and love. He's a talker and he's a thinker. He's a giver. He does everything with 110% passion and drive. He's a disciplinarian and a big softie. He's learning and he's an educator. He's an optimist and he's a realist. He has been given much and is required much of. He has high expectations for others, but higher expectations for himself. He's not funny when he tries to be and HILARIOUS when he doesn't mean to be.

He's my dad.

He is the one that our infinitely wise Almighty God hand-picked and groomed for me and my siblings.

- The one who would know the marketing scheme for both a snowcone man and an "up and coming" singer.

- The one who can teach his daughter how to shoot a pistol and go shop for another daughter's prom gown (without Mom no less).

- The one who can encourage us all on to greatness in spite of ourselves because he is a big picture person and yet in tune with the tiniest details.

- The one who is strong enough to stand up to anyone and soft enough to cry about it afterwards.

This man is not perfect. He is only a man. Just like you and just like me. He will never be perfect and is not expected to be perfect. But he is the perfect father for me. I thank God that in all His wisdom, He chose this man to be the one who lead our family and taught us God's Word. He chose this particular man to be the one who helped me with algebra and with teaching my first Bible Study. He chose this man to be the role model for who I will choose as a husband and how I will work steadily as unto the Lord. He chose this man to be my children's grandparent (if He so blesses me in that way) and to be the one who loves my mother infinitely more today than yesterday but less than he will tomorrow. He chose this man to show me what a man growing in godliness looks like and how to accept the discipline when we stumble and fall with grace.

Some call him names like philanthropist, deacon, leader, entrepreneur.

Some call him names like Jr., Hoops, Boss, or Doc.

Some might call him names that might be unmentionable here.

I just call him Dad because when I read that Father God sacrificed everything He had for those He loved the most...

... I saw the resemblance.

I love you, Dad!

Glad you are OK!