Father's Day is fast approaching. I understand the significants of Father's Day and have come to realize that being a father is one of the most awesome privileges bestowed upon me by God.This past year has given me plenty of food for thought to reflect about my father. When I was a young boy, my dad travelled extensively. Most Mondays through Thursdays he would be away from home working hard as a traveling service manager. He was the best at what he did and took great pride in doing the work that God had given him the best he could. But more times than not, I would miss the father / son times that we were missing. In retrospect, I look back now and remember that even though he was not home monday through thursday, he was ALWAYS at my games on friday afternoon or evening, no matter where they were being played. It did not matter how difficult it was for him to attend, he was always there. As a child, it was great to see him there. As an adult, it is great to know the love that he had for his children, and the great lengths he would go to just to show that love.
Later in my college years, when I strayed from God's will for me, my dad was always there to help me readjust my course through life. When I was young, his guidance was in the form of a loving strong hand, changing to loving and encouraging words backed by his living example when I was older. But I think the fact that he was always there made the most significant impact.
Now, I am much older, with children of my own. I spend countless hours reading the bible and praying and talking with God. And in doing this, one of the things I like the most about our God is that He is always there too. Sometimes he corrects us with a strong hand, and sometimes with loving encouraging words. But He is always there.
It is in this that I have realized that my father is very much a Godly man. He has always raised me in Godly ways, the best he knew how. For that I am extremely grateful and thankful that God has given me a dad that has chosen to love and honor God by trying to raise his children the way that God wanted and by using God as an example to follow.
More times than not, actions speak much louder than words. Economic times have impacted my family extremely hard. I have lost my job during the worst time possible. Stress levels at my house have been the highest I have ever seen. But during all this my dad sat me down and said, "Son, stay in constant prayer, ask for guidance". Wise words from a very wise man, repeating the words from the wisest. Psalms 25:5 - "guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior, and my hope is in you all the day long."
My dad has been a wonderful godly example to me my whole life. He has always loved me, cared for me, guided me, been an example for me to follow, and has kept his footsteps close to Jesus so that the example that he set for me was the example that God wished.
So this Father's Day, I want my dad to know how much I love him. I want him to know how much I appreciate the efforts he made to always be there for me. I want him to know how much I am grateful that he chose to be close with God, so that the example he set for me was a Godly example. But most importantly, I want to thank God for giving me a father that expresses his love to me everyday. I am so blessed to have a father like my father, and I thank him for being there for me always, and for loving me endlessly.
I love you Dad! Happy Father's Day!
Scott
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