Thank You God for My Dad!

Father's Day is Sunday. This is always a difficult time for me as a preacher, because just like every holiday I am expected to preach a sermon related to that Holiday. As I was thinking about this task, I began to think about the blessing God has given me in my own Dad. In fact as I write that statement I have developed that all too familiar "lump" in my throat. I can't think about what a great Dad I have without getting that "lump".

So for this "thought" in my blog I would like to write a short tribute to my Dad! Before I do that it must be said first because it is of utmost importance. Anything good I have to say about my Dad should merely be seen a reflection upon the awesomeness of "our Father" Scripture says that "every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights..." That is what I want everyone to understand as I seek to honor my earthly Dad. Any honor given him is really an honor due to our God!

With that being said let me tell you about my Dad. Believing in God as Father was an easy thing for me to do, because I understood very well the powerful love of a father. My Dad has always been an amazing example to me of that kind of love. That is not to say that my Dad has always been a "godly" example! It will be 20 years ago this year (November I think) that my Dad gave his heart to Jesus and began serving as an example not only of fatherly love but of godly fatherly love. I will be 35 this year so that means that for the first 15 or so years of my life, my Dad did not know God! But he did model the kind of fatherly love that made it easy for me to trust Jesus almost 19 years ago now.

My Dad and I have shared many memories and I pray that we will share many more. I remember one Christmas when I was 9 or 10 years old my Dad and I "burned" up, and I mean that quite literally, an Atari joystick playing Frogger together. I remember my Dad teaching me how to fish. How to hunt rabbits (without ever shooting at one I might add, that is a humorous memory!) I remember taking overnight float trips with my Dad (something we have done with my own sons) I wish I could say all the memories are filled with Joy.

You want to know the greatest thing about my Dad? He loved me enough to discipline me. He loved me enough to tell me the truth about what he saw happening in my life. He loved me enough to make me do things that I didn't really want to do. He loved me enough to ,for a short period of time, make me "hate" him because he knew I was making some mistakes. I will never be able to express what a powerful thing that is to me today!

You never really know love until you walk in and see or hear your Dad praying for you! I have done that on more than one occasion! WOW! What a humbling experience.

I sure wish I could say I have been the perfect son, but I haven't been. But my Dad was the best Dad not because he was perfect, but because he did his best with what he had to work with (namely me)! I have a sister and she turned out pretty OK too.

Anyway, today at almost 35 years old, my Dad is my best friend. Maybe that sounds strange to you. But to me, it is just natural. I have my own family now and my dad doesn't treat me like a kid, but like a man and we sit and talk on that level. We fish together and camp together. We talk about "business" together ( we are both preachers)

Anyway, I am sure I have bored you with talk of my Dad so let me just say this in case my Dad happens to read this. DAD, I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for being the greatest Dad that any kid could have. I hope my kids can have the feelings for me when they are grown that I have for you. I know sometimes you don't feel like you have done enough, but I think your awesome!

And THANK YOU GOD for my Dad! None of us derserve even the slightest blessing, but you are gracious and kind. I will forever praise you because you are worthy to be praised!


Thank you all for reading my feeble attempt to express the powerful feelings I have for my Dad.


By His Grace and For His Glory,


Bro. Chad