My Dad

I am doing a True Woman 101 study called Divine Design with several ladies right now. It is a study on God's design for men and women and how we display His glory. So good! I have been truly blessed to be in this group with several stay-at-home mom friends and a few older and wiser women. As we've gone through this study, done several pre-marital counselings (for couples at our church), and seen my husband as a great dad, I have been overwhelmed at what a blessed daughter I am. I love my Dad. He has been such a godly example to me. Who I am to be in Christ and what a man is supposed to be. He has taught me so much growing up and now I am realizing even more truths that were ingrained in me through him as I grew up that God is opening my eyes to even now. It is not Father's Day or anything but I wanted to share how much of a blessing my Dad is to me and my family.

One of the blessings that has been so clear to me lately is financial blessing. He has blessed me financially in so many ways. I think of how he has sacrificed so much in his life to bless my Mom, sisters, me, and others by giving his time and money. It all started when he made a decision to work hard through college to get a civil engineering degree. I know that earning that degree was not easy and getting up early for so many years to bring home the bacon was another commitment altogether. Because of this sacrifice and hard work, he was able to pay for my college degree, a civil engineering degree also. Although God did design me with that Type A personality with a love for math and science, I wanted to be like my Dad. I respect him in so many ways and thought doing that would work for me. I knew that if I worked hard through college to get that degree I could be financially stable no matter what happened in my life. My husband also got an engineering degree and that is how we met in college. Another blessing! I used my degree for several years before we had kids. I enjoyed my job immensely but knew God called me to stay home and raise our children up in the Lord that way. I am blessed to have worked several years in that profession and also help put my husband through his seminary masters degree. My Dad also showed me that ministry and family are more important than materialism. John is now a pastor and I stay at home raising our boys. If it wasn't for my Dad's financial decisions to get a good degree in order to get paid well and pay for my college, we would not have been able to take this church position. I am thankful to not have school loans or car payments so that we can be here here and serve where God has led us. Thank you Dad for allowing us to serve and showing us that God satisfies more than money ever will.

I am also reminded of many other sacrifices my Dad made for us growing up. My Dad would park outside the house in the extreme heat and cold so that my Mom, sisters, and I could park in the garage. He hardly ever spent money on himself so that we could have luxuries. He daily took care of the cat we brought home so that we could enjoy him. He went to work really early so he could be at our 3:30 pm track meets or any other activity we were involved in even if it was a dance competition. He really showed us that he supported us and cared for us in his actions and not just his words. And he still sacrifices things for us as we come visit with them or so that we can financially do things in our life.

He is a great example of a godly man and husband in many ways. He took us on individual dates so that we would know how a guy was supposed to treat us. He showed us that we were daughters of the King and we were to be treated like one. I think this kept me away from a lot of jerks and guys that weren't worth my time. I knew I should have only the best...and I certainly received the best in my husband. My Dad would always kiss and greet my Mom first, showing his daughters that his wife was of highest importance to him, even over us. He always made sure we respected Mom and talked well of her. He never lectured us about those simple things such as greeting her first but displayed them in daily life. After all, we grew up and got married and he is still in the same house with my Mom. A marriage relationship must be first (after God) above all other relationships! I think many couples miss this and don't know their spouse after the kids leave...they often end up divorcing. I was also blessed to see that my Dad took my Mom on dates weekly. He showed the importance of 'working' at your marriage. I think many couples just think they are going to stay madly in love without spending time together or having those intimate conversation they have while courting. Not so! I am grateful my Dad showed me otherwise because after being married 7 1/2 years I know it is easy to co-exist. I am grateful my husband and I are more in love than ever even in the 7th year when they say it is supposed to be the hardest. Yes, it is a choice to spend time together but oh what a blessing it is to have a wonderful marriage. Thank you Dad for showing me how to live it!

My Dad also showed me the importance of showing love and appreciation. I cannot even begin to count how many times he has told me I am beautiful, capable, and that he is proud of me often times with a hug. He still does. Wow; I am crying thinking about the extreme blessing that is to a daughter. To know that I am deeply loved because I am his daughter, not because of what I do or accomplish. He loves me even in my failure. He points me to the unconditional love of God the Father. It saddens me to see how many of my friends growing up and people in my life now turn to men to get that affirmation and love only to end up hurt and unsatisfied. I am grateful my Dad never made me feel that I needed to turn to worldly things (such as drugs, drinking, smoking, trying to have the perfect body or the best clothes, etc.) or people. I was satisfied in the fact that he loved me for me and that he pointed me to perfect love in Christ Jesus.

My Dad also showed me that it is OK to show and share emotion and how to listen and comfort when on the other end. My Dad was the first person I called when in college and I was struggling with a class. I knew he would listen, comfort me, and tell me he believes in me. I saw my Dad grow in compassion and grace as we grew up. He didn't become a Christian until his 30's so raising up a godly family was very foreign to him. Even in this I think he did a great job and as I think back on my life growing up I can see how God transformed him to be more like Christ. One of those ways is compassion. I know I turn to him more in my later years than when I was younger because of this. My sisters and I always joke that we made my Dad 'soft' living with 3 girls and my Mom. God used us to grow the fruit of the Spirit in his life of compassion and gentleness. I pray I allow myself to be molded by the Potter as my Dad has.

Of course, my Dad is not perfect but even in his failure and sin, he showed me what it means to ask for forgiveness and change. There are probably not a lot of Dad's out there that actually say they are sorry and ask forgiveness from their kids when they mess up but he did. Kids are smart and know when parents sin, so we might as well confess and display how a Christian should confess and repent when wrong. Even though my Dad and now husband do this humbling task so well, I struggle doing it myself. I strive to be better at that one day. I know Noah and Luke recognize when I sin. I might as well fess up to it and show them how they are to respond in a similar situation. I have done this some but should more. I want them to pass on that godly character to their wives and children...another generational blessing of godly character to be passed down from my Dad.

I could go on but just wanted my Dad to know that I love him and am grateful for him in so many ways. Dad, I am generationally blessed by your faithfulness to be a godly man, husband, father, friend, and minister of the gospel. I pray that those blessings of your character and life are passed down to our children. You are a blessing to many, Dad. I love you and I am grateful to be your daughter.