I have a father who could win an award for dad of the year.
I know a lot of people use this statement
But in my case it is nothing short of the truth.
He is always there to help me, provide for me and protect me.
He encourages me, guides me, and even listens to me.
He wants the best for me and pushes me towards that.
I can’t recall a time in my life where I’ve wanted to replace my dad.
There hasn’t been a time where I’ve thought “I wish you weren’t my dad.”
I sure never thought I needed a second father.
My dad is like a second father to many of my friends.
But I never desired to have a second father.
I have been beyond blessed with my dad.
So blessed that my words will not be able to convey my point to you.
I never needed anyone else.
But I’ve been away from this father of mine for nine months now.
He is back in America working hard
And I’ve been traveling around the world having little communication with him.
Then I came to Nepal.
And if there ever was a time I felt like a father figure has missing these past nine months
It sure hasn’t been here in Nepal.
I’ve found my second father.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Some people call their father
Dad, papa, pops, daddy, father
But not me
I call him “papa chicken”
And he calls me “baby chicken”
Within hours of meeting papa chicken
He informed us he is known as “Hallelujah Man”
It didn’t hit me until a few days later why he was called that
Papa chicken doesn’t just go around aimlessly saying Hallelujah
He says it very often
But when he says it he is saying it from a sincere heart
He is truly saying “praise the Lord!”
And his life is one of a hallelujah
But this is just the beginning of why he has become my father away from my father
He is far more than papa chicken or hallelujah man
HE IS MY SUPPORTER
One morning I spoke at a service we attended
That night papa chicken made sure to pull me aside
And tell me what I had said to the local people that morning
Was very good and full of wisdom
And exactly words that they needed to hear
HE LOVES ME DEEPLY
The team went on a hike to visit a handicapped man in the mountains
After papa chicken went tree climbing for some fruit
He came back and began peeling it
And feeding it into my mouth
He was saying “here my little girl, eat!”
He ended the hike by surprising me with a flower
What daughter doesn’t like getting flowers from her dad?
HE IS MY CHALLENGER
Cooking dinner has become a bonding time between papa chicken and myself
Although mama chicken does most of the cooking
Papa chicken and I are there to help and assist
While waiting on fries to cook or while cutting vegetables we have conversations
But the one conversation that sticks out the most
Was the night he asked me a very simple question
“What is your vision?”
He truly wanted me to consider what my eyes were focused on
And make sure that the answer was Jesus
HE KEEPS ME IN CHECK
Even though cooking dinner can be bonding time
It’s also a time where we choose to agree to disagree
Chicken fried rice was on the menu for dinner for the night
He told me he would cut the bones from the chicken
And I needed to slice it into small pieces
As I began to cut it into chunks
He tried to grab my knife and told me that was wrong
I told him it was just going in the rice so it didn’t matter what size the chicken pieces were
He insisted I should slice it into thin, small pieces
He won!
And boy was it yummy!
HE IS MY PROTECTOR
We were hiking down a mountain and along came a little rock
Next thing I know he is literally picking me up from the ground
He dusts my hand off for me and holds on to it for a minute
As I try to continue walking down the mountain
He asks me over and over if I am ok
And from then on he made sure I was careful to not slip down the mountain again
HIS CRAZY MATCHES MY CRAZY
Some mornings we start ministry very early
One afternoon I decided to take a nap in the common room
I was awoken to whispers from over my shoulder
And then realized I had a little creeper playing tricks on me
HE IS MY INSTRUCTOR
One afternoon I was helping papa chicken clean the water filter
I began to rub the filter to try and get the mold off
I really thought I was doing the right thing
He quickly saw what I was doing and told me to stop
And then he showed me how it should be done properly
HE DESIRES TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH ME
It had been a long day
We had been on a hike to pass out tracts
And papa chicken had been translating all day in a medical clinic
I walked down stairs to see if I could help with dinner
And found papa chicken on the rug cleaning something up
I sat down and asked about his day
He quickly patted right beside him
And said “come here baby chicken”
We continued to talk about the day until we decided we better go help mama chicken with dinner
I wake up in the morning hearing “Good morning! How did you sleep?”
I go to bed at night hearing “Good night my youngest daughter!”
I’ll never try to replace my dad
I’ve just realized that not only is there no harm in having two dads
It is actually quite beneficial
Now instead of having someone just look out for me in America
I have a father around the world who will
Protect me, provide for me, laugh with me
Support me, instruct me, guide me
Challenge me, spend time with me, and simply love me
