Happy Birthday Dad!
I’m SO thankful for you!
Creative Thinker
Like Einstein, you are inventive with the courage to pursue adventurous ideas and the ingenuity, elbow grease and perseverance to see your dreams happen. You are a life-long learner continually pursuing understanding and growth. Which pretty much means you are very alive. You are brilliant.
Colorful Buff
You have vast knowledge that is super handy. I love asking you about anything curious and finding a detailed understanding of most things I don’t know about. When I first left home for college I realized how useful and rare that is. You relate to all sorts of people through your vast array of interests.
Genuine Friend
You can communicate well with anyone, making them feel comfortable and valuable. You love deeply and care authentically for everyone you meet.
You know the value of relationships and so deal with issues quickly. You are merciful and forgiving, honest and trustworthy.
Faithful Pursuer
You seek to know what is really going on with us and to do all you can for us. You pray for us. You will always love us.
You are kind to grandpa even when he fights and ridicules you for providing necessary assistance. You are incredibly patient, enhancing your ability to honor others. Your sense of humor is invaluable for fostering perseverance.
Humble Worshiper
You worship God as you delight in the tiny and massive, life and beauty of His creation. You pursue holiness and display Christ-like humility. You have trusted God through acute, persistent, increasing difficulty in which others would despair. I really admire you for your steadfast grip on the truth when God’s goodness and your identity have consistently been attacked.
Upright Servant
You are careful to do things with excellence and integrity when no one is watching. You are handy, hard working, and dedicated to complete what you start. You built and payed for your house because of stewardship. You are wise. You are responsible and always provide. You are generous with no thought of return. You serve cheerfully and sacrificially. You help others when it is taxing and you are overlooked. But God sees.
Some of my favorite memories: Listening to you read George McDonald stories, Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Chronicles of Narnia, LotR … . Lane walks, cafe’ talks, and dashing to movies. Driving, camping, backpacking, and working together. Exploring architecture and museums, and attending concerts. Laughing around the dinner table. Listening to classical music and thunder storms.
One of my favorite things about you is your compassion – one of the few Gospel adjectives of Jesus. You rejoice with us and weep with us in whatever we are going through.
Furthermore “prautés,” meekness, describes you because you have great strength wielded gently. You are powerful and worthy of honor.
You are unique. You are talented. You are needed. You are valuable.
I hope you write a book. I hope you draw up blueprints for a community. If there is something you don’t want to live without doing – why not do it? Do you want to hike all the 14ers or sail around the world or learn the piano? Well you have lots of life left, so go for it. There is no time to loose on safety and reason. 🙂 And this is coming from your most rational child.
God loves you so much! He delights in you and honors you. He is so proud of you and compassionate towards you. He treaures you. He has good plans for you.
I pray this year God reveals much more of Himself and His love for you. I pray you know your identity in Him and subsequently walk in the path and with the authority He has given you. You have authority to do greater things than what Christ did!
I love you SO much and I’m so thankful God blessed me with you for my dad! I wish more men were like you – but no one comes close.
Xoxoxoxoxoxo,
Mere
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
Proverbs 16:31
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
John 14:12
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
Joel 2:25
