I want you to know it’s worth it. The years of endless time and love you have dedicated to the three of us does not go unnoticed. With out your loving guidance, I may not have accepted Christ and gone on to live out the faith I proclaim to possess. I would not have had an example of a Godly man and leader to pursue in my own husband. I may not have had the guts to change my major to nursing with out your support and wisdom. I wouldn’t have learned the importance of manners and being a woman of respect and kindness, and I certainly would not have developed a love for V8 Juice and Salt and Vinegar chips!
Dad, so many of not only the life altering but day to day decisions I make are because of you. It’s your voice of wisdom, reason, and teaching that I hear as I navigate through life’s ups and downs.
As we spend this month with boys and girls who are fatherless, your influence in my life has become glaringly obvious. You were there for me at each exciting, awkward, and even painful milestone I encountered. Even now as a married woman you are still there and for this, I am grateful. I may be married, but a girl always needs her Dad!
We are working with Zion’s Gate Ministries, which is a home for boys who have spent their lives on the streets of Honduras. Here they are rehabilitated, discipled, and taught how to become men who are leaders. It breaks my heart to realize that they don’t have someone like you. They don’t have a dad who reminds them how proud of them he is. They don’t have a dad who speaks the truth even when I don’t want to hear it. They don’t have a dad to model their lives after.
But that’s why we’re here. Luke 12:48 says, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Through you, I have been given so much. I may be miles and miles away from you on this day, Dad, but know that I am loving these children because you loved me. In the 30 days we’ll spend in Honduras, we can play a small role in breaking the chains of generational sin. These boys, unfortunately, are drug addicts, alcoholics and gang members because that’s what their fathers were. My prayer is that they will experience radical change in their lives and families through the transforming power of the gospel.
So, thank you. Thank you for modeling all of that for me. Next time you become frustrated by parenthood, know that right now there are people being loved and lives changed in multiple states and countries because of you. Thank you for being the man that I am proud to call my dad!!!
We were obviously fans from an early age!
