This Father’s Day, as a lay in bed, I want to honor my dad, Scott Sears, through whose love has allowed me to know a fraction of what it’s like to be loved by my Heavenly Father. I owe him more than I could ever repay him for this.
For as far back as I can remember, I have always been a daddy’s girl.
I can remember when he used to tuck me in at night as a little girl, and I would beg him to tell me stories so I could fall asleep. He would always make up stories about a little girl and her dad going four-wheeling or on adventures together, and I would always say, “Dad, not a story about us,” although I secretly loved that he would do that.
I can remember laying on the floor with him, curled up to his side, watching tv. Something I still do today, even though I couldn’t care less about what’s happening with the golfers on the screen. I just enjoy being with him.
I remember sitting on his shoulders as we walked around crowded places like Disney world or Six Flags, and feeling so proud that he was MY dad.
I remember him teaching me a simple way to fix a mistake when I colored outside the lines.
I remember watching him completely gut and redo a house that I think was actually foreclosed, and turn it into something beautiful. Into a home.
I remember him picking my up from daycare every now and then in his motorcycle and feeling like we were the coolest dad and daughter on the planet.
I remember him taking us on vacations, driving for hours to different destinations, and never complaining.
I remember him coaching my basketball team from the time I was about 7 to when I was probably around 12. Then I remember him yelling for me in the stands as I got older and played in school.
My dad was, is, and always will be Superman to me. He can fix anything, can always find a solution to a problem, and never gives up.
He’s taught me everything from how to save money to how to drive old whitey (his 1989 GM truck) to how to think smart to how to grill on the Primo lol.
He has the strongest work ethic of almost anyone I know, and genuinely just wants to teach anyone who is willing to listen to the wisdom he has to offer. He wants people to succeed and enjoy life.
He fully embodies what it means to be steadfast, strong, and wise. He is a provider for his family. He is playful and goofy and that’s how he loves deeply.
I’ve walked through many different seasons in my life, some where my choices were pretty stinking poor, and some where I was tapping into my potential. In every single season, my dad has always told me 2 things:
1. I love you.
2.I’m so proud of you.
There were a lot of moments I didn’t deserve the second one, whether he knew it or not….although he probably did because he’s no dummy, but my dad has never given up on me and has always seen my full potential.
Not one thing I have ever done, no matter how stupid, has ever affected his love for me. It’s never wavered, and he’s never held back from telling me he loved me. Even if he’s warned me of the consequences and known I usually learn the hard way, he’s watched me make mistakes and then helped me through fixing them, still reminding me that he loved me. Even if that means picking me up at 4am because I was naively trying to help someone out when I should have just stayed home, but instead totaled my car in the snow.
I’m sure there’s been many moments where I’ve disappointed him and let him down, and growing up there were absolutely many times I was disciplined. Just ask my siblings lol. Nevertheless, he’s always told me he loves me and he’s always told me he’s proud of me.
These two simple, yet powerful statements (backed up by actions), are so important for a girl to hear from her dad. For anyone to hear from their dad, really.
Unfortunately, I know that this is not the story for everyone. I know a lot of people who did not have the amazing Dad I did when they were growing up and therefore their perception of what a father is or what a father’s love looks like is not how God ever intended it to be. It’s damaged, skewed, tainted, or broken and they often times associate this broken relationship with their dad to the characteristics of God. Which couldn’t be further from reality. I will never know what it’s like to be abandoned, abused, neglected, or unworthy of my dad and his love, and for that I am so thankful. I’m so thankful that God gave me a dad who loves me to his best ability, tells me he loves me often, tells me he’s proud of me, and is patient with me through my mess ups. Because of this, I have been able to understand much more quickly and clearly how God loves me as His daughter.
If you ask me, I would tell you I’ve hit the jackpot when it comes to dads. In my eyes, he is the best dad in the whole world. I could continue to list off all the ways my dad is awesome and all the things he has done for not only me, but our whole family; however, those two statements I mentioned earlier are what matter the most, because they reflect my Father’s heart, too.
So,
Dad,
Thank you for loving me in spite of me sometimes. Thank you for always believing in me, supporting me, and encouraging me even if my dreams aren’t always the same as yours. Thank you for never letting me forget that you are proud of me and that your love for me is unshakable. Thank you for the sacrifices you have made for me, the ones that I know of and the ones that have gone unseen. Thank you for showing up everyday and for caring. Thank you for the best steaks I will ever eat. Thanks for pushing me to be better. Thank you for teaching me about responsibly and work ethic. Thank you for trusting me with parts of your heart, even after I’ve broken it in the past. Thank you for second, third, fourth, and fifth chances. Thank you for every single beautiful memory I have with you. Thank you for setting the bar high for my husband one day, and teaching me not to question my worth. Thank you for surprising me with flowers on my birthday last year. I will cherish that for the rest of my life. I knew I’d miss you when I left for the world race, but I had no idea I would miss you to the degree that I have. While I am enjoying life now and trying to stay present, I also eagerly wait for the day I am home and can give you as many hugs as I want.
I love you more than I could ever express in this lifetime, and I am so proud to be your daughter. You are an honorable man in God’s eyes and He is so proud of you. Thank you for loving me like Jesus does. I pray that our relationship would only grow deeper as time goes on and there would be lots of laughter and smiles along the way. I pray that God would continue to bless you and our family and that you would experience more of His unwavering love for you. As special as you are to me, you are even more treasured by Him. That’s hard for me to wrap my mind around, but it’s true. Happy Father’s Day to the greatest Dad in the world, my dad!
-Shannie
