Blessing #13--My Dad

~I love my dad~

Really, one of the most wonderful things about my dad is that I know he is unbelievably dependable. I don't mean that in just a "good guy", "run-of-the-mill" kinda compliments way. I mean that he is he kind of man who would do anything for his children. He'd do almost anything for his kids' friends and for his own friends, too. If I was driving across the country and ended up in the furthest state from him and my car broke down, he'd drive or fly out and meet me...just because that is who he is.
True, his silly jokes used to embarrass me a bit when friends were over. When someone would say "your hair is messed up", he'd respond with "thank you", a smile and a pat of his hair, proudly accepting the fact that they recognized that he actually had a little hair to be messed up. When people ask him how he's doing, he often tells them he's doing so well there ought to be two of him. Or, when a salesperson asks him if he/she can help him, he simply tells them that he is beyond help. He is a funny guy. I have friends who have commented about how appreciative they are of things my dad has done for them. Some even refer to him as if he were another father figure to them. That makes me proud.
I remember being a little kid and my dad would race my brother and me down the hallway. We'd take our mark at the kitchen linoleum and race down to the end of the hallway. Often, when my parents, brother and I would find ourselves congregating in my parents' bedroom talking together, my dad would take the opportunity to explain why that was exactly the reason we only needed a one-bedroom house.
My dad has always been a good example of a man of faith and a spiritual leader in my life. Never can I remember a time where I'd ask him a biblical question and he didn't know the answer or search God's Word to find out. I remember a friend telling me she her doctors had found a mass in her x-rays. As soon as I told my parents about it, my dad immediately said, "well, let's pray". And we did. Right then. Right there. Together.
On top of being a wonderful dad, my father is a very proud grandpa. He is so fun to watch with my boy. Toad and I met him for lunch one day while visiting "home" and my dad wanted to go to a certain sandwich shop. Not because he loved the food. But, because he wanted to show off his grandson to the ladies that worked there. It was obvious when we walked in that he had talked about Toad often. The ladies about jumped out of their shoes with excitement when they saw my dad carrying Toad into the sandwich shop.
Thanks for being the wise, loving, dependable dad that I am blessed to call my own. Happy birthday season to you, too, dad!