In our hyper-self-centered world the focus on our childhood's can often be on what we would have done differently or what we lacked growing-up. No doubt, there's been some pretty bad stories I've heard about fathers, but I'd like to focus this post on the top things my dad did well in raising his 5 children.
5. He married-up! Mom was and is beautiful and talented. A wonderful pianist, servant-doer and administrator. Versus the typical husband and wife roles, he might have been more heart and her a little more head, because without her little would have gotten done. Yet, in my view they truly complemented each other. It also was a gift, given today's environment, that they stayed married.
4. Despite working for decades in the rough and tumble world of the NYC construction trade, he was a lover. There was no natural reason he should have been the kind of man he was, he took alot of guff growing up in NYC his entire life. Yet, he loved people and was a natural encourager.
3. He initiated spiritual discussions. He was famous for opening a talk with 'isn't it amazing...' and then would go on about some quality about God or being a Christian.
2. He prayed for us. I remember him putting me to bed nearly every night. Telling me stories and intimately praying with and for me. None of that "now I lay me down to sleep" stuff for him, he prayed from his heart. Many times also I remember his heavy tradesman's hand on my forehead praying for me early in the morning before he left for work.
1. The best thing my dad did that made him a great dad was, he lived for God. He wasn't perfect - far from it (like me!). Yet, despite his faults, his heart beat for serving Christ. He loved the bible, serving others and leading others in song. All of his children have similar hearts.
Reflecting on my list, you don't see anything having to do with houses, car's or paying for private school or high-end colleges, often things that dads are prone to obesses over. A good reminder that a successful dad is not required to be winner on the corporate ladder.
Thanks for being a good dad. Thanks for encouraging a dad. Thanks for raising good, future dads.
For a little more on my dad and mom's story see my post called Home.
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| dad & me |
4. Despite working for decades in the rough and tumble world of the NYC construction trade, he was a lover. There was no natural reason he should have been the kind of man he was, he took alot of guff growing up in NYC his entire life. Yet, he loved people and was a natural encourager.
3. He initiated spiritual discussions. He was famous for opening a talk with 'isn't it amazing...' and then would go on about some quality about God or being a Christian.
2. He prayed for us. I remember him putting me to bed nearly every night. Telling me stories and intimately praying with and for me. None of that "now I lay me down to sleep" stuff for him, he prayed from his heart. Many times also I remember his heavy tradesman's hand on my forehead praying for me early in the morning before he left for work.
1. The best thing my dad did that made him a great dad was, he lived for God. He wasn't perfect - far from it (like me!). Yet, despite his faults, his heart beat for serving Christ. He loved the bible, serving others and leading others in song. All of his children have similar hearts.
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| "Poppy" 20 years ago with grand daughter Lynea" |
Thanks for being a good dad. Thanks for encouraging a dad. Thanks for raising good, future dads.
For a little more on my dad and mom's story see my post called Home.
again you make me cry
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