FATHER GOD
Good Morning and Happy Thursday! Hope your week is going well. I am wrapping up my third week of radiation and chemotherapy and doing pretty well overall. Headaches are better, just continue to have pretty low energy. I am very excited about the next few days. Kids and family will be here and my amazing, beautiful daughter, MADISON, get’s married tomorrow evening!!!! In fact let me share a quick thought related to my kids.
I have mentioned this often and if you know me you are aware. My dad died when I was 3 years old. I have zero memories of him and growing up without a father created some challenges and issues for me as a child, teenager and young adult. What began to shift for me was this. Natalie and I had our first child, Michael in 1990. I was excited and genuinely realized, I better start working on and figuring out how to be a good father!
Let me acknowledge, I have been an “imperfect father.” I can share many stories about how I messed up parenting my kids. But here is the deal. I have no doubt today that I have done some good “fathering” and have loved my three children well. Not perfect, but well!
My children amaze me. Mason has a beautiful little girl named Amelia. I watch him father his little girl and I could not be more proud. He is so engaged with her and is light years ahead of me in his parenting the first year of his daughters life. Michael and Mason have made their marriages a huge priority and I believe they love their wives very well! Not perfect, doesn’t happen, but very very well! Michael will be a father in a few weeks and I have no doubt he will be an incredible dad, to his first son.
Madison took me to the hospital yesterday for my radiation treatment. She and I discussed marriage and her wedding that happens tomorrow. Her perspective, desire and hope for her marriage is spot on. She loves Cole, wants a beautiful and blessed marriage. She also understands some of the challenges of marriage. Two people who grew up in a different homes, the difference between male and female, the faith experience, many different factors. She gets that a big part of marriage is learning first to love yourself well so you can then really love your spouse well. She is going to be an amazing wife!!!!
Here is a verse that has shaped how I see God as Father and has also shaped the father I have really tried to be to my amazing children.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that wee should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1.
The more I have learned to know God as my Father, the more it has shaped the father I have really worked to be to my children. Again, please hear and understand, I am in no way a perfect father. And my children know they have a dad that loves them so much. The thought of my life ending and my children moving forward without their dad, stinks. I am working on and will continue to find ways to remind, reassure and encourage them to go live well. Be an amazing spouse, Learn to love yourself well, love your wife or husband well, figure out how to be a parent that makes a difference in your child’s life. Michael, Mason and Madison do this well and will continue to grow and do this well.
So for you today. In my mind it starts with each of us working through our own imperfect relationship with a father or mother. As you heal and grow through that, then really focus on being a father or mother that can love children and others well. So many of you have done that and I am so encourage and proud of you! I have and continue to learn so much from others.
You are loved, your life matters and have a beautiful day!
Peace,