Dad,
This year I want to thank you for all the things you’ve done!
- Thank you for setting an example by living out the belief system you taught us. One year Kyleen posted a picture and status on Facebook that perfectly describes you and I filed those words away in my brain’s rolodex to remember forever because they were so powerful:
“Our Dad didn’t tell us how to live. He lived and let us watch.”
You told us your expectations, gave us grace for our mistakes, and didn’t tyrant us into the way we should live. You simply brought us along while you lived a purposeful life dedicated to God, family, church, and serving others. I can’t think of any better way to show us the importance of your words by letting us observe the results of the seeds you daily sowed.
- Thank you for teaching me about finances and responsibility with money.
- Thank you for taking me on my first roller coaster ride in California when Mom and Josiah were both too scared.
- Thank you for loving Mom in a way that not only set an example for us but also catches the attention of others – your closest friends, my friends, etc. v Thank you for being so steadfast in everything you do. You don’t waver. You are faithful to your goals, job, purpose, family, and more importantly your faith and beliefs. You went to the gym on fort bliss every single morning before work and were gone before I was even awake, no matter how tired you were or how bad the weather was. Now you walk more than 2 miles every morning…even on Father’s Day. You’re steadfast and your quiet devotion to the importance of seeing everything through to the end and never wavering has been an astounding example to your kids.
- Thank you for never yelling or raising a hand to Mom or your family. You always conducted yourself in a manner that deeply respects authority, women, and to me that is the mark of a real man.
- Thank you for teaching me the importance of prayer and helping me, along with mom, learn how to pray.
- Thank you for doing little things for me like changing my light switch to one that had an outlet in it so I could plug in my straight iron without having to reach behind my dresser. Most dads just chill and watch TV when they get bored on a Saturday afternoon, ya know?
- Thank you for telling us the “why” behind the “what”. You didn’t just tell us one side of politics, you taught us about both sides and let us choose.
- Thank you for being home for dinner every night. Every day at 5:00 like clockwork you pulled into the driveway and we ate dinner as a family. I didn’t realize that wasn’t “typical” until I saw other family dinners over the years realized what you did took intention, effort, and dedication.
- Thank you for teaching me the best country music. Every time I hear Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks, Steve Wariner, Collin Raye, or Alan Jackson I think about you (did ya catch that Collin Raye song reference?)
- Thank you for taking us to allllllll of the state and national parks in the southwest to see everything from white sand to caves to cool red rocks to 4 state corners to cliff dwellings to the biggest trees I’ve ever seen. You taught us that history is important and even if it seems boring at the time, it’s good to know at least a little about a lot of different things.
- Thank you for coming to the piano recitals, sports games, competitions, and even college performances when I was a music major (and already an adult). Even more so, thank you for coming to my student’s recitals when I became a piano teacher and held Christmas recitals for all my kiddos to show off to their parents. You and Mom showed up to support and help even then when I wasn’t performing!
- Thank you for teaching us kids the importance of showing up. I’ve been to so many funerals, hospital visits, rehab, nursing homes with you guys….you and Mom taught us to be present for the hard moments of the ones we love, not just the fun ones.
- Thank you for helping me pick up the shattered pieces of my life a couple of years ago as it only continued to worsen throughout the months. Thank you for letting me cry and then praying for me. Thank you for forgiving my mistakes, even the ones you warned me not to make before they happened. Thank you for not judging me. Thank you for helping take care of me financially when I couldn’t take care of myself and for telling me that I would never be homeless because if I lost everything I had, I would still have a home with you and Mom no matter what.
- Thank you for teaching me little things like the best way to fill ice trays, how to use a wall level, how to make straight lines with chalk string to help with tile projects, to use the word “shocked” by electricity, not “electrocuted” because if you say you’ve been electrocuted that means you’re dead, and that daylight LEDs are way better than those other hellish heat bulbs. Oh and thank you for somehow fixing everything I manage to break: my car, bedroom wall, shoes, couch….just the usual stuff everyone breaks.
I always knew I was lucky. Now I know my Dad is simply some level of perfection and for some reason God chose to bless ME with the life I get to have as his daughter. I love being able to witness this kind of love here on earth that so beautifully reflects Christ’s love for me.
Obviously I am aware my dad is not perfect. But seriously, like…. he’s pretty freakin close.
How sweet of Jesus to give me this life.
Dad, I would choose you every time if I got to. I love you and Happy Daddy’s Day!
Love, Buggy