I have a lot to be thankful for. I come from a tightly knit family that sticks together no matter what, and as time goes on I realize just how rare that can be in this world. I’ve been blessed, while many have grown up in broken homes, full of dysfunction, without the safety and security provided by parents who are dedicated to one another in love, and siblings that consider family the ultimate value. In just a few years, my parents will celebrate 50 years together.
Thanks to my dad, I’ve been blessed to see firsthand that men don’t need to shout at people to be strong. While some guys haven’t had a good fatherly example, I have; I’ve written about him here. Being a father now, I’m blessed to see a level of maturity and perspective in my own kids that some guys my age are unable to display. I named one of my children after my dad. He loves my mother and is a great example of how to be a man, a husband, and a dad.
Then there’s my mother. She finds words to encourage people in every season and situation. She has embraced my wife as if she was her own daughter; she’s always there for her. She has always pursued what is best for us, and even in tense seasons, or in conflict, has the perspective that we are one family forever, and everything else is under that banner. She loves my father and is a great example in marriage. She spends a lot of one on one time with our kids, teaching them to read, listening to their stories, and engaging them in conversation. With my mom, these kids get to be real people. They’re not forced to act out just to get attention.
Not everyone has parents like I do. I wish they did; being a husband and dad is made easier because of my parents. Life is better because of them. They’re just stronger than so many of the other examples out there. Self control, maturity, wisdom, generosity, love, faithfulness, respect, and fun are the words that describe them.
I’ve got a lot to live up to so that my kids could say these things about me!