Sunday Sentiments

 

Today is Father's Day, which I know can bring about a mix of emotion for everyone. I know there are many who hurt over fathers who have passed away, fathers who never showed up, and fathers they long to be, but they don't have children in their home. 

For those of you who hurt on this day, I hope those around you see and acknowlege that and give you support and room to grieve your losses! I hope to do that for those around me who are in that place.

But I also want to acknowledge some fathers in my own life who have impacted me and helped shape my life!

There is, of course, my own father, who will be turning ninety this year. Can you believe that? In one of my writing prompts this week, I was supposed to explore memories of my childhood with my dad, and one of the things I noted was that as ridiculously busy as he was during those years, I can't remember him being absent from time he could spend with me. He was a school teacher, which meant he had lesson plans to write and papers and tests to grade. He had a radio program that took dozens of hours each week to produce from start to finish. He answered every letter every listener wrote to him. He had a lot of property and our house to care for, and he did it well. And he was very active in church, plus he often filled in for other churches when pastors were gone. He was busy. But he was always there for every meal, for playtime, and to teach me about the Bible. I appreciate that so much more now that I see and know what a sacrifice it was!

I also had a fantastic Grandpa! My Dad's dad died before I was born, but Mom's dad was an active part of life! (He died when I was in junior high.) I spent many nights at their house and he would always take me to McDonald's and tell me to order whatever I want. He would line up dining room chairs (at Grandma's direction) beside the couch I slept on so I didn't roll off in my sleep. And it was their home I lived in the first 16 years of my adult life. Grandpa had a quiet humor about him, and he always had a sweet twinkle in his eye. I miss him!

When I married Ryan, I gained TWO fathers-in-law...one in his dad, Gary, and one in his step-dad, Allen. I think most of you know Allen passed away a year and a half ago, most unexpectedly, but I have appreciated both these men and their acceptance of me as a true daughter. Both have been as kind and and supportive to me as they are to Ryan, and I'm grateful!

And last, but certainly not least, I want to give a big shout-out to Ryan, today. No, we do not have any children of our own, but Ryan is for sure a great father. 

When he married me, he took on Braeya, too, and she loved him from the minute she met him. I have been significantly old news since he arrived, and he is still her favorite today. He does a great job caring for her and making sure she is always comfortable. (Diva, you know.)

And even though it took me NINE YEARS to talk him into getting a dog, he has been an amazing dad to Lexi. He has watched literally hundreds of hours of training videos, works hard with her on her skills, fixes all her meals every day, gets up with her in the morning so I can sleep a little longer, and loves her more than ever thought loving a dog would be possible. (See? I was right!)

And beyond these two, Ryan does an incredible job being a great fatherly influence in the life of our little godson. He is not his dad and doens't pretend to be, but he spends so much time making sure he's safe, loved, and cared for when he's in our home. He helps with EVERYTHING. He prays for him, loves him, and invests in him over and over again, and it is a joy to behold.

So today I am grateful for all these who have invested in my life and in the lives of those who are dear to me. 

Today I celebrate all of the men who invest as fathers or father-figures to those in their lives. Your work matters!