As a little girl, I dreamed quite frequently of how my life would be. Things like what I would be when I grew up, who I would be married to, and I how many children I would have all percolated in my head. I watched with delight the stories of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella and awaited for the day my prince, my hero would come.
Webster’s defines hero as the following: “Any person, especially a man, admired for courage, nobility”.
This man would be in my life. He would protect me, guide me, hold my hand, wipe tears from my eyes, encourage me, and believe in me. Life would be perfect. We would live HAPPILY EVER AFTER.
Growing up we are faced with the realities of the world. Not everything is perfect. No one is perfect. And life is hard. As different circumstances through the years affected my family I began to realize this “hero” was already in my life, but I hadn’t noticed. My father. My father, I admire and respect greatly. Over and over again, he has showed strength, patience, guidance, belief, understanding, discipline, a great sense of humor, great stories, and an exemplifies what it is to be a man of God. Through 36 years of marriage to my mom, he has shown me what it truly means to commit yourself to one person. He has shown me what it means to truly love another human being. He has taught me through his actions and love what it is like to raise a family with Christ at its center.
Now as a grown up little girl, the things that I use to look for in a mate have changed. No longer do I need a “hero”. I need laughter. I need a friend. Most importantly I need a man of God. Someone who can challenge me, and that I can challenge to constantly seek God in all things.
With Father’s day coming up, I just want to say thank you to my dad.
Thank you for showing me what unconditional love is. Thank you for showing me how to laugh in hardship. Thank you for constant words of encouragement, when I have been discouraged from life. Thank you for guidance and patience when I have been lost. Thank you for giving mom kisses and holding her hand in front of us. Thank you for hugs, kisses, and discipline. Thank you for night time prayers.
Thank you for being a man of God.
