As I sit on an airplane headed to Chicago I can not put aside the thought of how important our fathers are. I know you probably are too now thinking of your dad and what fond memories you have of him. Being a father myself, I cannot describe the joy it is being a dad. You see dads are much different than moms. They are the ones with drive, strength, or as mine put it tenacity.
Hmmm....tenacity, what a great word for dad. It is that lead by example, I refuse to give up and I will keep working toward the goal all rolled up in one word to describe a father. In contrast mom has the nurturing heart. Unfortunately most assume that dads don't nurture or in fact don't even care. It wasn't until I went through my divorce that I realized fathers most certainly care, but in a far different way.
Let me tell you what I mean. Throughout my separation and divorce my heart was shattered by the events that I went through. My two greatest desires and goals in life were not anything to do with money but everything to do with relationships; being a good husband and a loving father. Men let events define how they are rather than mould who they can be. When I went through the separation and divorce it robbed me of the two most important things that defined who I was and left me feeling like I had absolutely nothing left in life.
During the long debilitating process one man stood by my side, sometimes kicking and screaming as I dragged him in. Some days he acted with godly wisdom while others just humanistic contempt. A little more about him? Well he too is a father of seven children, the first six were boys than a daughter. He worked hard taking care of his family and making sacrifices that sometimes he shouldn't have had to make. He was the youngest of nine and had to fight for who he would become. He was both smart and driven and yes like me full of tenacity.
Most look at him maybe as too driven, hard and maybe one who has a hard time with people. Some of it may be true, but unless you got to know him you would not know the truth of who he is.
As I have gone through this 30 plus month journey I realize I couldn't have done it without him. He has bailed me out financially. It was he that when I said I wanted to give up he told me to keep holding on to God's promises. It was he who has heard about my repeated court cases giving me advise along the way. And yes it was he who has been watching me as I trust God throughout the process only to say, "Son I am proud of you."
Yes if you have not realized who I am talking about it is my dad. All I can say is dad, thank you and know I love you!
Our fathers are but a small reflection of who our Heavenly Father is. God is our strength, provider, support and there all the time and then some. So if your going through a hard time and your waining and want to give up know this, God is always there. He has said that He will never leave you. He will bring you to the other side of your Jordan. Thank you God for being my refuge and strength a very present help in trouble times.
CAL
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