Yes, you, the dad whose social media involvement has grown significantly in the past 10 months.
You, the dad who has stopped walking away or moving quickly past his emotions; the dad who has illustrated strength to me through embracing them instead.
You, the dad who welcomes in the women I call sisters and calls them “daughter,” loving and caring for them like they really are your own daughters.
You, the dad who doesn’t care how many times you’ve already said it and will continue repeating “I love you,” and “I’m proud of you,” for as long as I’ll live.
You have taught me much about the love of my Heavenly Father through the way that you have loved me. You have taught me to articulate my beliefs and my passions through hours of storytelling in the car or over Pita Pit. You have taught me to laugh harder, and your teaching spirit has taught me to teach. Your relationship with Mom has taught me what it looks like for a husband to love his wife as Christ loves the church.
And to you, World Race Dad –
Yes, you, the dads who took me in as their own thanks to their own daughters; and also you, the dads who have been spiritual fathers to me as I have walked my own journey of faith.
You, the dads who did not name me, but who helped to teach me how to live out my name as a child of God.
You, the dads who are never surprised when I show up at your house and have arrived long before your own daughter will show her face (looking at you, Poppa Plant).
You, the men who sat around the table with me in church staff meetings encouraging each other, taking all things to the Lord in prayer, and building up the body through your own sacrificial service.
You, the ones always ready to crack a joke or play a prank. You’ve taught me how to laugh harder and enjoy the stupidest of things.
You have also shown me what spiritual leadership looks like. You have taught me how to trust the leadership that I am called to serve under, and you have taught me how to embrace the call of leadership in my own life. Your involvement in the journey of my life – however long or short term it may have been – has been more influential than you know.
And to you, World Race Dad –
Yes, you, the dad I call as soon as I enter a country. The dad who welcomes me into a home and creates a space where we truly can feel at home.
You, the dad who has helped to cast vision and prayed prayers over my life at every step of this journey. You, the dad who has given wise fatherly advice, whether a true physical father or not.
You, the dad who laughs with me about translation mishaps and miscommunications. You, the dad who helps me to embrace cultures and shows me how love pushes past those differences.
You have portrayed the love of Christ in your service to your family, to my team, and to your community. You have taught me patience and how to find humor in even the most ridiculous of circumstances. You have challenged me to walk into deeper places of trust with the Lord. You have shown me what it means to live in total dependence on Him.
Thank you.
Thank you for being Godly husbands, pastors, disciplers, teachers – for being examples of Godly men who are pursuing more of Him.
Thank you for providing and for teaching me what it looks like to be provided for and served. Thank you for teaching me to embrace my role as a helper, and for encouraging me to continue becoming a woman after the Lord’s heart.
Thank you for investing in my life – for sharing stories about your own journeys, for challenging my faith, for asking and answering questions. Thank you for helping me to embrace my own story, and for always having an ear ready to listen.
Thank for you leading me. Thank you for serving me. Thank you for loving me.
Thanks for being a dad.
thanks for being my poppa bear.
