BLOG CHALLENGE #14: FATHER'S DAY

Today is Father's Day and Keith is actually off today - yay! He works most holidays so it's always a blessing when he actually doesn't have to work on a holiday.

father \ˈfä-thər\ (n): a man who has begotten a child
daddy \ˈda-dē\ (n): a diminutive, familiar term for father

So, um, neither the definition for "father" nor the definition for "daddy" is really all that special. That's too bad. It really is. I mean, any man who is capable of reproducing could be a father or, by dictionary definition, even a daddy. So it's too bad that we haven't come up with a term for father that has a deeper, more endearing meaning. I had a father who loved me (and still does as far as I know), but he certainly wasn't the best father. I suppose he was the best father he knew how to be, but he was pretty selfish and very controlling and had/has a host of other issues I absolutely disagree with. In my book he would never qualify for Father of the Year. We've had our ups and downs and while I do love him because he's my father, I don't spend much time with him. Sometimes it makes me sad that I don't have a father that I'm close to and that I truly enjoy spending time with, but I have accepted the fact that, for reasons I will probably never understand, he is the father God gave me and I have an obligation to honor him. I still struggle with what that means, believe me, but I am trying. My father doesn't show any signs of changing so I have adjusted my thoughts, actions and attitudes according to God's commands and, like I said, it's a struggle, but I'm working through it.

Now MY children, on the other hand, do have a wonderful father. Notice I didn't say "perfect." Because he's not. But he is a good father. He is a very good father. He can be overprotective to the point of being obnoxious, he can be quite inflexible at times and very judgmental and sometimes he interrogates our children like he's interrogating a criminal suspect which is simply infuriating. But when it gets right down to it, he is an amazing father. He loves his children with all that he is and works himself half to death to see that they not only have everything they need, but that they have much of what their hearts desire. Not so much that they are superficial or materialistic or that they think the world owes them something, but he likes to see them be able to take advantage of every opportunity they are given if possible. For instance, he makes sure they can play sports if they choose to (and in today's world it costs a small fortune per sport/season), he makes sure there is money for them to attend social events and activities and church camp, there are vacations and trips every year, we go to the movie theater and to restaurants, and they don't have to wear bargain basement clothes (although I do love a good bargain!). In other words, he doesn't just provide for their basic needs which is really all that's required of him. What's amazing to me is that even though Keith works two jobs - he's a full-time Sheriff's Deputy and the school liaison officer for one of our county schools 20 hours a week - and he takes on special assignments and jobs for extra money, he spends TIME with our children and makes memories with them. He takes them fishing and to the movies and on picnics and to the park and to museums. He plays games with them on the floor and reads books to them. When the girls were little he even played doll house and Barbies and dress-up. He wrestles with Garrett and teaches him how to throw the "perfect punch" (I'm secretly hoping Garrett will never need that skill). Keith has taught all three of our children how to cast a fishing line, how to bait a hook and fillet a fish (well, not so much the girls!). He talks with Garrett about anything and everything and even lets him help work on the truck and under the sink. He teaches Garrett how to open doors for girls and to be a gentleman. He takes Garrett to the barbershop, has taken Caitlyn to dinner and dancing and goes putt-putt golfing with Claire. He attends all of their school programs, church programs and sporting events even if he has to show up in uniform. He hugs and kisses all three of them and tells them he loves them every single day. He takes them to church every Sunday morning and helps out with and participates in mid-week children's ministries as often as he can as well as Vacation Bible School. He prays with them and for them. So no, he isn't the perfect father, but he is a darn great one and his daughters and his son know he cares and that they can depend on him. They might not always like his rules or his advice (especially our teenage daughter) or his actions, but they know without a doubt that they are loved. The dad in our family could definitely qualify for Father of the Year.