As I sift through my life and think of our moments, the most common theme of all is that you are one of my greatest cheerleaders.
So great, in fact, that when the annual “Daddy-daughter dance” rolled around at Jeam Lanphier Dance Studio, you were the first in line, eager to hold my hand and dance with me on that stage. I remember each year as I got older you would ask “are we dancing again this year?” The older I got I would reluctantly say “yes.” I remember practicing our dances with you, rolling my eyes, putting up a front and pretending to be too cool for school. But you always remained eager, looking forward to those special times. I’m so grateful that you kept a smile on your face through my attitudes, because these are the moments I’m so grateful for.
You love so well. I remember when you sat me and Luke down and told us you were going to Mexico for a missions trip. I remember you talking to us about your experiences and showing us what it looks like to serve. I remember going through my things and giving items away for the kids that you were about to meet on your trip. At such a young age, you taught me the value of sacrifice and abandonment for a greater purpose.
I remember hard conversations around the dinner table. I remember you often instructing and saying in various ways that some of the changes you encouraged would be good for our family. And no matter how hard those changes were at the beginning, you were right. It was always good for us.
You have always put mom, Luke and me first. Whether it was the sacrifice of putting your bike races in hold for a decade, or cooking me and Luke’s TV dinners or mac & cheese every Tuesday and Thursday when mom worked late, you always showed us what it looked like to love.
I think back to when I was a little girl and I remember being so afraid of so much. I carried fear and anxiety around with me, often too afraid of trying new things. Now-a-days I’m not so sure I remember what that feels like. So much has changed for me and I can’t really think of one defining moment when the switch clicked.
But whatever it is, I think you had something to do with it. You’ve always been in the front lines of my life. You’ve always been the person to step me out on the ledge to introduce me to new adventures. You were always my greatest cheerleader.
You taught me wisdom, you showed me joy. You were diligent in discipline, even when it was hard, and brought me to this place where I know how freedom and discipline go hand in hand.
You are one of a kind. You are something special.
I want to say thank you to all of the great father figures in your life who taught you to become one of the great’s yourself.
But I think it’s less of them, and more of the fact that you stayed so close to your Father and He stepped you through.
Thank you dad, for everything. Thank you for the hard things and thank you for the easy. Thanks for always being there, for cheering me on and for loving me in a way that brings me closer and closer to Our Father.
You’re the best and I can’t wait to hug you in 14 days.
Love,
Linds
