Fathers, God's Gracious Gift

Father’s Day brings mixed emotions for me.

It’s a celebration of the faithfulness of my heavenly Father and His provisions. It’s also a grim reminder that my father won’t be around to celebrate with us. Though I lost my father over 31 years ago, the pain of loss still creeps up on me from time to time.

For the 12 years that I did spend with my father, I learned life lessons that greatly influenced my values. He was a hard worker and taught me the value of putting forth effort, doing your best, no matter how mundane the job is.

He was a kind and tender-hearted individual that was quick to give a helping hand. I learned the power of generosity in small everyday situations can become an opportunity to be a blessing to someone that might be down on their luck.

The power to make a difference lies in the ability to be a true friend, which he called, neighborly. I never heard him complain.

I watched the way he lived.

It made me want to be a good person.

Throughout grade school I was overweight, awkward, and uncoordinated. After I got glasses the hateful nicknames increased.

Dad must have known. One of the last things he ever said to me was, “You look so grown and getting prettier everyday.” He had a way that increased my confidence, he made me feel comfortable with who I was.

I didn’t feel so weird when I was around Dad.

I felt loved, valued.

On Father’s Day, many may have the same feelings of loss, but be encouraged. After my father died, I realized my need for God. I found comfort in His Word, I found love in His presence, and I found value because of His love for me.

God took the single most devastating loss in my life to yield my stubborn will to submission.
An old adage became the main component in a season of seeking,

“You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”

My prayers every night was for a Godly husband one day that would love his children and be a great father.

And then…

God sent

Bryan.

Bryan is every bit the wonderful husband and father I prayed for. He exhibits so many of the wonderful qualities that I admired in my father.

He’s charming, always looking for an adventure, a kind and tender-hearted individual that is quick to give a helping hand.

He loves his family dearly, and would do whatever it takes to protect, provide and keep them happy.

He has the power to make a difference in other’s lives.

He spends time with them, being available to listen, talk, encourage.

He is gifted and uses those gifts to help others, a hard worker that teaches me the value of putting forth effort, doing your best, n
o matter how mundane the job is.

Family to Bryan is most important and our lives have centered around that value. He always increases my confidence, makes me feel comfortable with who I am.

I don’t feel so weird when I’m around Bryan.

I feel loved, valued.

Bryan’s compassion for others, his hard work ethics, and the generous spirit he displays are daily reminders of God’s gracious gifts. He makes small everyday situations into opportunities to be a blessing to someone that might be down on their luck.