My dad is a gift to to me. There are so many good qualities about him that I respect. So Dad this post is for you….
When I think about the way you’ve impacted my life, these words come to my mind…heart to serve, safe, secure, supportive and quiet strength.
I see you with a heart to serve. My entire live I’ve seen you serving others. You are a reflection of Jesus in the ways He served.
You’ve become a carpenter in the past few years. You’ve taken this new discovered talent of yours to create beautiful furniture for other people…including our family. I know with each nail hammered and piece of wood sanded, it is done with love.
You’ve also got the heart to serve your community. I admire how you volunteer with Habitat for Humanity building homes for low income families…helping the less fortunate be blessed.
I can also see how you serve Jesus at Highland United Methodist Church. When I was in high school and for several years after, you’ve gone to the poor at their falling-apart-but-thankful-to-have shacks and houses and seen what needed to be fixed or built.…allowing and providing some physical and spiritual hope for the needy that lived there and for the young kids who put their sweat, hands and even tears into it. Even though you did “behind-the-scene” work, you’ve helped hundreds of peoples’ hearts swell with joy in serving and with thankfulness.
At church, for as long as I can remember, you’ve greeting people when they enter the sanctuary with a smile and even hugs, serving communion and even doing repairs around the church.
One of my most special memories at church when I was young is when I would sit in the pew by myself until after the giving of offering. Then you’d come sit with me to listen to the minister give his sermon. You’d let me lie my head in your lap and with your what-I-thought-huge hand rub my back or sit with your arm around my shoulder…it made me feel secure and safe and loved.
Another gift you’ve given me is constant support. You’ve supported all my endeavors, activities and dreams….that went from piano recitals, dance recitals, cheering, paying for me to attend and graduate from college, and still today, encourages me as a mother to train and love your grandchildren…just to mention a few.
But one of the most valuable qualities in you that I look up to and ever-so-grateful- for is how you’ve shown me that quiet strength is a gift. It truly is a gift that I’ve realized in my later years. In James 1:19, it says we are to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Dad, you live by those words…
You think before you speak and take the time to say just he right words…which I admire and try to live by, too.
I will never forget the letter you took the time and wrote me right before I had my brain surgery…almost 20 years ago! That meant so much to me and your words gave me strength to help get me through that hard chapter of my life…that letter may have show me where I get the love of writing comes from…
Children inherit or receive some of the same genes from their parents…and I feel like I’ve been given several ones from you. I’ve come to realize I’ve been given the gift, from our heavenly Father, some of your strengths and qualities that I am so thank-full for.
I love you Dad! Happy Father’s Day!
#564 my dad’s support
#565 my dad’s serving heart
#566 the quiet strength I admire in my dad
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