Yes it is. Every day is Father's Day, just as every day is Mother's Day! Here, a great picture of a great grandfather, my father. He is great on many levels, not in title only.
My son, new father, now taking up the torch and adventure I was blessed to start twenty-eight years ago!
As I ponder my life of faith, I can take no more credit for it than I can in 'choosing' my dad. Yet, as I found myself holding my prodigy (my sons), and now holding the continued prodigy (my grandson), I stand at the same precipice as before, yet with greater understanding, wisdom (I hope) and gratitude.
No one gets to pick their dad. He gets 'picked' for you and me. I find myself standing in the best of grandfather shoes a man could ever have. They are comfortable, stylish and 'fit' perfectly! Having not been raised with a grandpa (both exited the planet before I remembered), I missed the blessing of living with that relationship. Watching my children benefit and thoroughly enjoy having both, on both sides of our family, was a treat. It helped me understand what I missed and how blessed my kids are to have had such rich connections to their grandparents, since it was not mine to have. It is striking to me, how many forfeit the opportunity to live and breathe fully the role, but some, like in my case, transitioned off the planet. Yet it is because my parents are still alive today, that I know how challenging it is and the costs of parenting and grandparenting.
I have been fortunate to follow and seek the wisdom, not of this world, but of my God, discovering the means to cherish and of self-sacrifice. But my understanding not only came from God, but the man he gave me as my father. No dad is perfect, and having walked in those shoes, I am chief of imperfection and error. I often tell others of my surprise that my kids are the quality guys they are, giving full credit to their mother for it (and the incredible grace of God). My mistakes have been numerous. But if ever a dad were 'perfect' for me, it would be mine. I learned diligence and discipline (oft imparted fearfully, and painfully in the early years). I knew of his great love and desire for his son to become the best he possibly could. I learned how to find ways to encourage the gifts and talents rising up inside me. I learned that the best things in life do not come easy but require the greatest of efforts. I discovered how to work through unknowns and decisions, with all the family together. I saw that struggle would come and working through it would reap incredible rewards. I now know that 'do overs' and 'start overs' are opportunities to become someone much more than before. And, I have passed these on to my boys, as best as I could.
Yes, today and everyday is Father's Day. Not because of what we get, rather what we give. I have found I need no other gifts than those found in my boy's great decisions to forge ahead in life with even more 'tools' than I was given. I hope they pass on to their children the like. I now have new understanding of the progeny 'list' of fathers in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Joseph and Mary's family contributed immensely to who they were as well as their qualifications to be 'parents' of this most holy child. As we head rapidly toward the annual time of celebration of this event, I find myself thankful for my family as I'm sure Jesus was for his. Sure, Christmas is a magical season because of Christ, but then again, what also made it magical was his incredible father. He often spoke of His Father (22 times in the gospel of John). And so here, I do the same. I am blessed to know my amazing Father, God, but He poured out an amazing blessing giving me the dad I have. So today and everyday is my father's day. Dad, I know you read my blog, and I know others do too.
While it isn't really Father's Day, I'm just sayin', thanks dad for being the amazing dad, grandpa and mentor I needed, and mostly thanks for always being here for me. It isn't something I take for granted, it most certainly is something I cherish and appreciate with all my heart with great regularity. I am a very blessed man with a wonderful dad! I know your grandparents weren't available for you, yet you have filled those shoes in my boys well, leading the way for me. You get to start, and I get to continue what hasn't happened in generations, but something tells me its all going to work out just fine, great grandpa, and you are great!
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