Dad, I love you.

On this Father's Day I am hard pressed to find words to express what I feel towards my father. This is an odd feeling as normally words come naturally for me. Yet, today is different. How do you put 30 years of fatherhood into words? How do you explain love and acceptance that can truly only be experienced first-hand? How do articulate compassion, mercy, and faithfulness when those attributes are actions thus leaving them only as adjectives feels so inefficient? I don't know how to express my gratitude and love this Father's Day but I will sure try. In fact, only one set of words truly make an impact on people. I will use those Words to describe my dad and my childhood home...

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
(Ephesians 6:4 ESV)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
(Deuteronomy 6:4-7 ESV)

Yep, this describes both my dad and my home, alright! Not perfect, but many fond memories. And best of all, Jesus was spoken of there. Everyday. Every meal. At bed time. In the morning time. All the time. I still remember mornings, when I got up early enough, seeing my dad rocking in his chair either reading his Bible or praying. He set the spiritual tone in our house. One of faithfulness to God. I remember both of my parents "teaching diligently" the scriptures to us. What a gift that was. I had no idea how big a gift that was then, but I appreciate it more and more daily.

Not only did he train me well in Christ but also he was always making my sister and I a priority. I remember countless days of pitch & catch, shooting hoops, playing 4 downs in the front yard, taking me to Royals games and so much more. We loved sports together so we often spent our time watching them or playing them. I still remember watching the Hogs win the NCAA Championship together in 1994 at the Moyers house. And I remember him consoling me as I was so distraught after Nick Lowry missed a game winning field goal for the Chiefs against the Dolphins in the playoffs. While he was definitely busy, he always made time for me. And my most distinct memory is from probably 3rd or 4th grade when he took me to a Lee's Summit High School Tiger Basketball game, just me and him. As we walked back up the porch to go inside I told him thanks. I can't remember exactly what he said because I hung on one particular word in his response...he called me his "buddy!" Yes, Dad and I have always been great friends.

Still, I made some mistakes. Some of them very heart breaking. Yet, with all the disappointment I caused him, all the pain my parents went through from my bad decisions, one thing is for sure: He never gave up on me. Neither of my parents did. They remained, through the pain, merciful, gracious, compassionate, and most of all, Christ-like. You see, like the passage above, it was in those moments my parents taught me about Jesus "while we walked along the way" by BEING him to me in some of the most important times of my life. For that, I am forever grateful!

So on this Father's Day, while my Dad and I are not able to spend it together please know this: the older I get, the more grateful for you I am. When I think of how hard it is to be a godly Dad like you I am all the more impressed that you did it without even having an earthly example of your own to follow. You followed the best example, our Father in heaven, and all in all you did well. You have, and still are leaving a legacy.

So, today and every day remember: Dad, I am thinking of you. Dad, I am proud of you. Dad, I am your biggest fan. And Dad, I love you.

Happy Father's Day!