My dad was a good man. He lived well; he lived with purpose. He worked hard. He was open, honest, and full of joy. He loved people and brought out the best in them. I wish I could have known him better. The truth is, there are people who will read this that knew him much better than I. And while there's lots of things I wish he would have lived to teach me, there's truly only one lesson I needed to learn from him (and I did):
My dad taught me to know and love God.
The last 15 years have had ups and downs, struggles and victories, sorrows and joys. But through it all, I've known that I have a God who loves me; a God who has adopted me as His own son; a God who wants to be my Father. In moments of pain, I've had a Father to turn to. His voice has been leading me, guiding me, protecting me. His hand has blessed me with grace and favor. His breath has filled my lungs. He has given me courage. He has given me comfort and has encouraged me when I'm down. He's humbled me in my pride and disciplined my imprudence.
It's easier now than it used to be. I still love, honor, and miss my dad. He set an example of what it was to love the Lord and to live for Him with humility.
I learned from my dad what it means to love God. I am the man I am today because of the relationship I have with God. In the absence of my dad, I can truly say that I have been Fathered by God.
My dad used to say lots of things to me as a kid. Some of them stuck, some of them didn't. He used to say "Love mom the most." For which I am ever grateful - the relationship he encouraged my brother and I to build with my mom got us through some of the hardest times. My mom is an incredible woman of God. Without her wisdom, courage and faith, I cannot begin to imagine how much harder the last 15 years would have been. But one of the ones that stuck is the prayer of blessing he used to say over my brother and I every night at bedtime. Let me leave you with this blessing:
"May you know greatness and goodness; and may you know God's greatness and goodness."
