Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.
-1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Last month I wrote about the special ladies in my life. This month I would like to do the same for the Dad's out there.
Back in October I gained a special man in my life. He has laughed with me. He has allowed me to travel with him and his family to places in our country that I had never been to before. He has taught me history about those places. I have been to church with him. He has shown much interest in my profession on the water. He has trusted me. What has he trusted me with? He has trusted me with his daughter! Yes, I have gained a good man, a man of integrity. He is my Father in law!
To him, I would like to say thank you for answering the Lords call to be a godly man in my life, and another earthly father that I can count on for wisdom and encouragement.
Where do I start?
He has always been there. He is a loving husband to my Mom. He has worked extremely hard in his lifetime to provide for his family. God has given him so many skills with his hands to build things. He has always had time for my sister, brother, and I. He always had time to talk about any and everything. When I was little, he always had answers for me concerning God's word, and creation. I have never known him to compromise on what he knows to be right and true.
He is a man of integrity, and the lessons of life he has taught me have remained in my heart. Though I had backslided in my life for a season, my Dad always treated me like the father in the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32). Dad has always embraced me with a smile and a firm hand shake. He taught me how to fish. He taught me how to run boats. He taught me to love others, to treat everyone with kindness, and when I saw something that needed to be done, don't leave it for someone else to do.
He taught me the little things in life like taking my hat off in the house, and when I talk to a lady. He taught me to respect my elders by saying Yes Ma'am and No Ma'am, Yes Sir and No Sir. Dad beat into me the importance of forgiveness. He was always after me about honoring God with my language. He used to say to me "A big mouth never made a big man!"
There is so much more that I could say about my Dad on Father's Day, but I think this is good for now.
I thank God for him every day!
Happy Father's Day to all the men out there who have had the courage to step up and be the Dads and Husbands that God has called you to be!
Kevin-