Ugh. I literally just started crying while typing the title. I wasn’t sure if I would follow through and write this. I had talked myself out of it – in my thoughts, but as I parked in front of the house…K-Love was having callers share WHO they wanted to wish a Happy Father’s Day…and kids and adults were sharing about their own father, the father of their own children, or the person who acted as a father. I tried to find the song that they were playing, but I have no clue what it was called. So, enjoy the videos I added at the end of the writing…if you make it that far.

WARNING – I switch in and out between 2nd person (talking to Dad) and 3rd person (referring to Dad). Please forgive me, Teachers… it didn’t make sense doing it in one or the other…but needed both. [If that doesn’t show I’m a teacher…I don’t know what does. Who apologizes on their own blog for switching back and forth between points-of-view?]

So, here it goes…some of the thoughts in my head…

If you know me and are friends with me on Facebook, then you know ALL about this picture. I post it every year on Father’s Day and sometimes in March (on the 24th) as well. It was Dad’s favorite picture of the two of us. Why? Because I was the daughter who liked “heights” like he did. My parents often tell the story of when the five of us went to an amusement park – I don’t know if it was Kings’ Island or Opryland. Dad took my older sisters on a ride while I stayed down with Mom. When they returned, I was crying because I didn’t get to go. Alas, here was my turn. I don’t remember this exact memory, but I do remember the time he took me and my older sister on a ride of some sort. He was sitting with me with my oldest sister behind us. She kept crying, so before the ride started….he moved to sit with Dianna and I sat in my seat solo. Dad said I laughed the whole way and kept looking down while Dianna…was not as joyful. I remember that ride. Thanks, Dad, for letting me go.

There’s many other things I could mention like….

Our love of CRISPY bacon – and how’d you laugh and say “almost burnt” when I would order it at restaurants on Saturday for breakfast.

Our love of corn on the cob – and how we’d share which store had “good corn” available.

Our tendency to post a lot…and share memes. Sharing our lives and joys. However, I opt to share puns, Bible verses and positive thoughts rather than anything political…as I figure…it’s not going to change anyone’s mind.

Our love of reading. When we packed up your FIVE (I think) bookshelves stuffed with books, I found more than a shelfful to bring home. I think I’m down to about 6 left to read. I always mention that trait to my students.

Our thick heads of hair. My vacuum may not be too happy with it, but Brooke and I often mention how my hair is something that came from you.

Our affection for pets. I will say…I’m in Buddy’s top 3 people he’s a fan of. He’s a lot louder than my boys, though.

Our enjoyment of a good nap.

#KLOVE, there are two much more important reasons to say thank you to my dad.

The first would be because he showed us what loving your spouse meant. Mom and Dad didn’t have a perfect marriage. They could both aggravate the other at times, but…nobody would ever doubt how much Dad loved Mom.

Shoot! His FB friends would get a countdown every year to their anniversary. He always referred to her as “the love of my life”. She was indeed that, and nobody would doubt it.

Since retiring, my parents were practically around each other 24-7. Sometimes, Mom would volunteer in my room while Dad volunteered at the local hospital to get ‘extra hours in’ [He was certainly a competitive man and didn’t want Mom’s KDH volunteer hours to be too much greater than his.] I think that togetherness magnified the challenge of Mom’s “new chapter” of solo-living.

However, Buddy certainly does his best to both show her affection and…aggravate her, so I’m sure you’d be proud of him.

So, Dad, thank you for loving Mom so well.

The most important thing I need to thank you for came roaring back into my head during VBS a couple weeks ago. I was teaching the Bible lesson again, which wouldn’t surprise Dad at all. Anyway, on Day 3, I was teaching the Lost Lamb parable. I told the 1st-2nd grade group that heaven rejoices when someone comes to Christ and chooses to follow Him. To that statement, Triston asked, “How do you do that?”

I thought for a moment, then said, “I’ll tell you what my dad told me back when I was in third grade.” I then proceeded to share the ABCs of becoming a Christian. I still remember that day that Dad came back to Dianna’s bedroom and shared that simple explanation of the gospel with me. As often happened when I was a kid, I was sick, so my parents had me sleeping in Dianna’s bedroom because it was always toastier. I remember Dad leading me in the sinner’s prayer and then Mom telling me she’d “go forward with me” when I was ready. [FYI when I was a kid…I was quiet and shy. I’m sure those who know me personally as an adult may be shocked by that Jodi-trivia.]

The following Sunday, the pastor started the invitation (the opportunity to share your decision to follow Jesus and follow with believers’ baptism) and the piano started playing. I grabbed Mom’s hand and off we went. I still remember the pastor telling my parents after the service that THAT was the quickest he had seen someone walk down the aisle.

I recall the Sunday when I was baptized. I put on the white robe and the pastor (whatever his name was) baptized me, and Daniel (a younger boy in the church who was mentally challenged) was so worried about me and ran up to give me a hug when I came out afterwards.

I honestly don’t ever remember a time when our family didn’t go to church. Thanks for that, Dad. For not only sharing the gospel with me but demonstrating how important it was to be an active and faithful church member. We may have ended up serving in different churches, but we are all active members of a body of believers. Thanks for introducing me to my heavenly Father – the One who created me and allowed me to be the daughter of you and Mom.

What about you?

If your father is still present in this world, I hope you spend some time with him today. If you can’t, I hope you call him to say “thank you” and “I love you”. Those of us who can’t ….sure wish we could.

But…if you don’t have someone to say thank you to….and maybe you never did. There’s One who loves you. There’s One who will be there when your earthly father lets you down. I saw a post that one of my former students shared which said he had no memories of his father’s love, but a photo showed that at one time…it was there. My heart breaks for him and for you if your situation is similar. But…I know a God who will be your Father…

FAITHFUL – Always there and never lets you down. He’s not “Santa Claus” to give you everything you ask for, but He will be there for you…whether going through good times or trying times.

AFFECTIONATE – He loves you. He loved you SO MUCH that He sent His Son to die on a cross for you.

TIMELESS – As Leland and I discussed this morning, this one is hard to grasp. We believe that God created us, but Leland asked, “Who created God?” Well, God…always was….and always will be. It’s hard to grasp, but it brings peace when you believe it to be so.

HOLY – He wants to give us His Holiness, so that we can spend eternity with Him. That takes us back to those ABCs I shared earlier.

EVERYWHERE – He will never leave you or forsake you.

RESCUER – He rescues us from sin, which is anything we think, say, or do that goes against His Word, the Bible. Jesus was sent to be the Savior of the world to rescue us from our sin.

Well, there it is. The tears have stopped for now. I think…I’ll either read a book or take a nap….I mean…it’s what Dad would do.

Love you & miss you, Dad. I’ll see you on the streets of gold when He decides my book has finished.

The FATHER acrostic I shared earlier comes from my Crew Lesson this morning at church. If you and your kids would like to watch the lesson we used, here it is.

P.S. Dad, I changed the colors of my blog to include RED just for you. I also wore my red, white, and blue dress to church today. Mom went to church with me and to lunch. I figured you’d be glad.