That is when this mommy asks, "what are you doing son?" to which he excitedly exclaims, "I am going to be like my daddy!" I don't understand... which might be an okay thing at the moment, however, I cannot help myself. "How are you being like your daddy?" he says, "I am wearing boxers!"... Oh... okay... This is like over the winter when he took to wearing no shirt with his pajama bottoms because daddy doesn't either. This goes along with the tools he wants to have, the ones that are his size just like his daddy. Which also goes along with the way he likes to ride around in my 4Runner with the window down and elbow out because that's what "daddy lets me do". Love Beyond Measure.
My daughter has had a transition of sorts too... she has taken to pulling her daddy around by the hand to show him the things she needs him to do, like change the burned out light bulbs in her room. Or come and get the creepy moth off her bedroom wall. She will seek out his lap and nestle her head in his neck. She can look at him and bat her big brown eyes with her long brown lashes at him and suddenly the kids are having ice-cream before dinner and staying up till 10 pm. She comes in between us a lot too. When her daddy and I pray we reach for each others hand, she's been noticing this and she will do the same. I don't mind these things, she needs to know she has a place in her fathers eyes... he sees her and it's okay when he stops, to give her his undivided attention. She needs to know he loves her. Love Beyond Measure.
Which brings me to my dad... Most are aware that my dad has battled more than his fair share of demons... Growing up wasn't easy, life was really hard and there were may pit-falls and collateral damage. My childhood wasn't ideal, but ideal - I have found, is a realization you create for yourself in your mind... ideal is or at least for me was something everyone else had. My dad used to say "you will understand when you have kids of your own"... or "when you are older". I am not referring to his reasons for drinking or falling short as
a father. I am referring to his discipline, the places I couldn't go or the friends he didn't necessarily want me to associate with. He was tough and there was a lot of discipline... I understand, like he said, "now that I have my own children".
My dad also has loved me beyond measure. He has comforted me when I have been sad, his heart has broken for me when I seemed to have hurt myself beyond repair. He has listened when I have needed him to and he has been proud of me with all of my successes.
As recently as last night my pastor asked a question on Facebook; Father's Day is quickly approaching! Reply and share with us what you love/loved about your dad. What made/makes him special? My reply, "That he had always provided a home. That I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, I always have a home! And that is true, I remember sitting at his feet and we'd be talking about the future... even on my wedding day... the soft reminder that I was never too old to come home. Love Beyond Measure.
I think too on the amazing fathers I know, good Godly men, who set an example and go against the grain of this world. I'd love to type their names in here to recognize them, but I won't for privacy sake. They know who they are...
The other father of twins in my life, who loves my daughter as much as her daddy some days and makes her giggle and smile. Who provides structure and safety for my own son and who laughs when all the boys get into mischief.
The military one, who teaches my kids, very structured and disciplined but will walk in and scoop my baby girl up when she has skinned her knee --- like a hero on the battlefield (a snap-shot image). Who also makes my son buck-up a bit and get down to business.
The pastor one who accepts my daughters card as if it's be best thing he as seen all day as well as patiently sits with my son and has a eternally long
conversation about the green ninja.
The Uncle one who would be there in a heart-beat for any and everything...
The great-grandpa one, who's passed away for me too many years now... who still gets talked about. Stories shared and passed down to my own kids.
Real to them almost as real as he was to me.
I have to thank them all... for who they are to my kids... Thank you all for being Amazing loving Father's to your own children and those who's lives you touch...
Love Beyond Measure.
Our Father who is in Heaven... (Matthew 6:9)
My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? (John 14:2)
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.... (1 John 3:1)
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present not things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)