It’s the greatest thing in my life, to hear that word from Liza and Stephanie and to know the depth of meaning and the source from which it emanates. All through the years there have been so many different expressions of that word from them. There were little girl “Pick me up, Daddy”s , teenage daughters’ being teased and the roll of the eyes “Daa-dee-hhh”, the mature and stunning “Thank you, Daddy” that came from each one while dressed in a wedding gown, and all the way back to the two very best ones from Linda, “You’re going to be a Daddy”! Each and every time, even today on this my 29th Father’s day, a special and unique thrill goes through me…a tugging at my heart…a moving of my spirit…a surge of joy in my soul…a simple moment of love… oh so cherished …oh so familiar yet oh so fresh…every time. One day I’m going to research the biochemistry and spiritual miracle that happens inside a man’s chest in those moments. What a marvelous Creator we have! What a perfect gift He gave us…to know love like that, to actually feel it, inside. “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me!”
I could now lay out for you page after page of moments like that from all these years of being a Daddy but since today is Father’s Day I have the prerogative of something new. You see, I’ve become a Daddy twice over in these last years. Now, I have two sons as well. Ready -made, “full-growed”, in love with our daughters, strapping, strong, real men, sons-in-law! I didn’t get to raise them(wouldn’t know how) but in my heart and in my and Linda’s prayers, we knew that God was using their parents and His guidance to raise them up for His purposes. Now, it’s a beautiful thing to see…these “sons” of mine… loving, taking care of, providing for, and husbanding our girls. And…they’re doing it with such passion! It’s obvious. They’re not kidding around. They really love those girls ladies. They work hard, excel at their jobs, garner praise from their peers and superiors, devote themselves to their homes, and in so doing show the world what’s really in their hearts. This week Linda and I have seen both our “sons” show unusual courage and leadership in their respective careers that made us very proud. So…There ya go…’m just sayin’…not to brag, but...really, though,we’re truly just thankful.
Now, our prayer is that God, in His sovereign grace, will grant to each of them the greatest gift He ever gave to me…in His own time, in His own place, in His own way…the joy of hearing the sound of my favorite word… “Daddy.”
