For My Dad

My dad doesn’t need a bunch of accolades. That has never been his pursuit. I guess that means he deserves more . . . but he tends to dodge attention. However, he taught us that gratitude is important, so I will compose this so he can’t complain.

 

Thank you, Dad.

 

Thank you for your uncomplicated faith. Of course your faith is your own and not mine, but I believe a father’s faith is a gift to his children – the foundation of the family and relationships.

 

Thank you for loving Mom and being a faithful husband. You demonstrated how I should expect to be treated.

 

Thank you for your example of how to live . . . not the hypocritical “do as I say, not as I do”.

 

Thank you for teaching me that God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

 

Thank you for discipline without anger.

 

Thank you for making us work, and not caving in to protests and tears.

 

Thank you for unconditional love. I never ever felt I had to do or be something to earn your acceptance.

 

Thank you for camping! As a parent I can now appreciate this was not the easiest route, but definitely the most rewarding for the family.

 

Thank you for your endless patience, for driving an hour to give my car a jump when I left the lights on – without being angry or giving a lecture. You knew that I knew I blew it . . . and for all the other times you patiently went out of your way to “bail me out”. (At least I didn’t make you go to San Diego or Eureka like some other siblings)

 

Thank you for not being controlling – for giving us room to grow and make choices (and mistakes) before we were out on our own.

 

Thank you for teaching me that happiness is a choice. I rejected this for a long time, but you just kept saying it until one day it finally made sense.

 

Being a dad is a very big and difficult job – not everyone is good at it. I am most fortunate to have been blessed with the best dad ever. I am grateful to God and I am grateful to you.