“Catch!
Got it.
Better than the last.
Always is”
This exchange has always been how my Dad and I say goodbye to each other. Ever since I can remember we would blow each other a kiss and say these words. He would tuck me in in for bed – “catch!!” He’d drop me off for school – “catch!”. The most recent goodbye was leaving for 11 months on the World Race and it was the most tearful “catch” to date. Now my only communication with my Pops has been messenger and FaceTimes to which we almost always end with our favorite goodbye phrase.
Dad, you’ve always said “catch”, but you’ve always been the one who caught me.
When you duct taped my feet to the pedals to help me learn how to ride a bike. I fell and you caught me.
When I had a broken heart – you caught me and let me cry in your arms.
You are always my first call. I’ve had more car wrecks than most, but every single time you were my call. Even if you couldn’t understand what I was saying through my sobs – you calmed me down, told me to breathe and always said it would all be okay.
When someone asks, what’s your dad like?
I cant help but smile.
I say, “He’s a feeler. He cried during Toy Story” and I laugh, but I say this with so much admiration because I love the fact that my dad can fully feel. Every Christmas I can always count on the waterworks during the end of It’s A Wonderful Life. Your tears are symbols of what means the most to you. My brothers and I may poke fun at you, but those epic ‘family moments’ in movies when we look over, your glasses are off and you’re wiping your tears – it’s when I see your heart the most. Those moments tug at your heart strings and they are messengers to me of how much family means to you.
Like every human, you have made mistakes, but God has been there to guide and catch you. I’ll never forget you bending at the alter asking for forgiveness. You led us spiritually as you sought out a church family we could plug into. Then you humbly stood in front of the church and confessed your past mistakes. You fought for your faith and led me closer to my Heavenly Father. I’ll never forget that and it will forever be a part of my testimony.
Thank you for making time. You’re the hardest working lawyer I know and even though you have always been up to your neck in work you made time to see or talk to us. Even if I only got to see you in the mornings on the car rides to school – you made it fun by blasting the stereo, not caring what anyone else thought. Nothing like making a bumpin’ Murphy Lee entrance to Middle School drop off.
There’s no exaggeration when I say you were the best soccer coach I’ve ever had. I’ll never forget practices in our back yard and the 5 rules to live by that you taught all of your players:
-Treat others how you would want to be treated
-Always do your best
-Have fun (duh)
-Play as a team
-Do it right
These rules hold true to how you have lived your life and how you’ve been a Father to us.
Thank you for making us laugh. Christian, Nick and I may be scared for life from ‘THE CLAW’ tickle monster, and that one scary face that you make, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
It’s all of this and so much more –
I get my goofy from you. You always made sure I had flowers on Valentines Day. You jumped out of a plane with me and Christian for goodness sake. You make the best pancakes in the world. You help me keep our family traditions alive and because of you I’ll get to pass them on to my children one day. You’ve learned to fight for your marriage with Karen and you have grown to be one of the most patient people I know. Life may knock you down, but you have always tried your best to hold everyone else up in the chaos. I know you’re able to do that because you know Who holds you up.
You’re my forever encourager and protector. I sucked at math – you told me I was smart. I felt less than – you told me I was more than. You’re the Mordecai to my Esther – you make me feel like I was created for such a time as this.
You supported me in this crazy World Race dream of mine and I know I can always come to you no matter how nuts my ambitions may be.
I hope you take a break today to eat some pancakes, put the work down, bump your favorite music too loud, spend some time with Jesus, reflect on these memories and look forward to the many more to come. Thanks for catching me and thanks for being my ‘Always Is’.
Here’s to you, Pops! Can’t wait to hug your neck in a week!
P.s. I hope this makes up for the 100+ ugly ties I’ve bought you in Father’s Day past.
