Father's Day is right around the corner. Can I take a little blog poll? What do you love, respect, or admire most about your Father? What memory had the greatest impact?
For me, it was the fact that my dad was always there for me. Sports were a huge part of my life growing up and I don't think he missed a single game! But the most memorable was my freshman year at the University of Chicago. I didn't get much playing time early in the season and we had a cross-country game at Brandeis in Boston. I still can't believe this, but my parents drove at least twenty-hours round trip to watch me play about ten minutes! I'll never forget it. And if I remember right, they had to pull an all-nighter to drive home after the game.
One of the greatest gifts we can give us our kids is the gift of presence. It's also one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father has given to us!
For me, it was the fact that my dad was always there for me. Sports were a huge part of my life growing up and I don't think he missed a single game! But the most memorable was my freshman year at the University of Chicago. I didn't get much playing time early in the season and we had a cross-country game at Brandeis in Boston. I still can't believe this, but my parents drove at least twenty-hours round trip to watch me play about ten minutes! I'll never forget it. And if I remember right, they had to pull an all-nighter to drive home after the game.
One of the greatest gifts we can give us our kids is the gift of presence. It's also one of the greatest gifts our Heavenly Father has given to us!
11 Comments:
For me is was my Dad Driving down to KY for my basic training graduation. Being a Cav Scout 19D, we had a 16-week Basic in the Army instead of the normal 8 week. Seeing him there supporting me, was a big deal. My dad was a hippy and didn't really understand the difference between 1968 Army and 1992 Army. Different world and different time. his simple presense was more than enough for me.
So many to choose from - probably the time he swore at me for having a bad report card but the next morning apologized and told me he was wrong and that though grades were important a man's character was much more important.
I remember my dad coming to one and only one of my rugby games at boarding school but it meant a lot to me.
I think the cost of that presence is also significant. If my dad had been living down the street from my school and had come to only one of my games I suspect it wouldn't have meant that much to me.
Thanks for sharing
This memory is a bit different...
When I was in third grade my parents divorced... my dad was a Marine and gone alot anyway. My momma moved us from California to Michigan (huge mistake) I didnt see my daddy for 18 years. I cried every night as a young girl, remembering the hot tears that stained the pages of my letters, hoping my dad could see my pain. Fast foward years.. went to see my Dad in Arizona, alot of old memories came flooding back as I looked at pictures of him with his new family and new daughters... those same hot tears rose up within me. I drove home to San Diego, and talked with a great friend. He told me that once I lowered my expectations of who I thought my daddy should be, that I could forgive him and love him.
I got down on my knees and I asked God to please help me, heal me.
I then saw a picture in my mind.
I saw a big beautiful tree... almost like a weeping willow. I had a shovel and I started digging, I made hole and I began to put all of my hurts, my pains, my expectations, my rejection into that hole. I then put the dirt back in and covered the hole, and all the junk that was in it. I remember padding the dirt... and then I saw a flower grow from the dirt... New life happens when we can love and forgive. It was the greatest healing moment. A girl needs her daddy, and Jesus became that for me. How great it was to hug my earthly Father, and finally feel those arms of love wrap around me... and becuase of healing... his Presence and his love were finally real to me.
Even today, it is still my dads wisdom. As a grown woman I can call him for advice, and get his perspective on any given situation. He is a very wise man who will not come right out and give me an answer but directs me down a path to find it.
my dad believed in me...i never really thought about it or appreciated it until later in life. my teens were a trying time for me and even more so on them. when i ultimately made the move to ministry he was so proud and told me he always saw it in me. guess i had to get chipped away to get there. my dad is amazing.
happy fathers day!
I don't remember my Dad coming to anything. His absence is what I remember most. And his silence even at home.He alwys wanted to be left alone. Now my boys saw me at EVERYTHING (My husband was a pilot and was there when he was home)and up close and personal about LOTS and now my grandchildren. It's so wonderful for all of us.
My dad always answered my endless questions with patience (that's the way I remember it, anyway) and told me I could do anything I set my mind to do. My favorite scripture verse is Phillipians 4:13. I've always felt that my earthly father planted the seed and my Heavenly Father grew the desire to accomplish my purpose...whatever that may turn out to be. Still working on that!
Well it's hard to say what was my favorite thing about my Dad. What wasn't?! But high up on the list is how he was always there for me no matter what. When I was a teen he told me once, "no matter what situation you find yourself in if it's not right you call me. I will come and get you - no matter what - no questions asked." I'll never forget the day I had to use that call. He was there. No questions asked. No matter what. Just like my heavenly Father always looking out for me. Today I had to say this to my teen. We have to be there. No matter what.
I was blessed to have a dad who did not only come to all the games I ever played but went to 85% of all the practices. He never said anything but just sat up in the shadows. He was always my biggest fan.
He also is one of the hardest workers I met. He would put a 120% into taking care of us. He got laid off and worked in a convience store to take care of us until he could get a better job.
I love my dad!
It was when my dad married my mom and accepted me as his own. My natural dad and my mom divorced when I was 3 months old. My mom remarried when I was 2 years old and my mom brought along 2 kids. My dad loves me as if I were his...I guess I am! Even after he and my mom had a son. He's has always introduced me and my sister as his daughters.
This is significant to me because most of my childhood and young adult hood I thought that I was unloved, unlovable and unacceptable. But, when I received a measure of healing, I saw how my dad loved me and how he accepted me as his own and because of his wonderful love, I've been able to catch glimpses of my Father's amazing love for me.
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