No, it isn’t Father’s Day, but I needed to share this that has been on my heart.
The other day my friend Tiffany was talking about the avocado tree that her parents had in the backyard growing up. She said that she took them for granted and didn’t eat much of them because she didn’t find them appealing with zero to no taste (what she thought when she was under the age of 10). She wish she hadn’t though, because now she loves them.
This got me thinking of you and your love for avocados. I remember being 9 or 10 dragging up a chair to stand on and watch you eat them after work at our then yellow counter top. You drenched them in lemon juice and sprinkled them with lemon pepper. I’d ask for some. I could always tell you where a little reluctant (given they were your fav), but you would give anything to your little girl and served me with a smile. This wasn’t the only thing I would ask for. Remember me trying octopus and sardines? This wasn’t because I liked them, but it was because you were eating them. I looked up to you and wanted to be just like you.
Dad, I still look up to you.
You loved me so well. This week I was pushing some kids on the swings getting flashbacks of the way you would push me so high, running underneath the swing/ pretending that I was an airplane that you needed to dodge. As I pushed the kids I started replaying all the games you played with me. I thought, “I am able to do this, because you did this with me.” How blessed am?!!!!
Me and little Benjamin doing double high fives mid air!
I find that a lot of things we did as kids are coming into play on this race. Just the other day I was playing soccer with the older kids. Giving them cool nicknames that encouraged them after finding out that their real names were never going to happen. I played goalie and blocked a number of kicks (who knew I (a previous cheerleader) could actually be good at this). As I was standing there at the goal I got visions of how we would go with Kelly and Kalise to Almaden Lake Park and kick the soccer ball around. None of us knew any of the rules, but we made up our own and had a blast.
Goalie. Defending the goal. I am pretty sure I blocked this shot.
Extreme game of HORSE. God equips me for everything.
Dad, you have such a amazing and fun imagination. You made my childhood so memorable. Did you know, that one day the love you shared with me would be used to bless the children around the world? You have made such an impact! These games I learned from you and now play with the kids open up doors to speak words of life & encouragement over them, pray for them and let them have a good time! You are great. Please never doubt the impact that you have had on my life and are still having.
I love you so so much! I am so blessed to have you for a dad. I love you lots!
