The love of a Father

As a thought to Father's Day, I figured I would share my thoughts on this special day.

I have been truly blessed to have a father in my life to this day. My papa is something special, a one of a kind. :) I feel extremely blessed, as I know many people never met there father, have one, but don't have a relationship with him, or did but has since passed on. I'm grateful for every single year that I get to share with my papa...it's a true blessing in life, the LOVE a father gives.

My papa and I weren't always the best of buds. In fact, to me, more like something I feared. Why? Well, ya see, as I've learned over the last 10 years of my life, him and I are something of the same breed! hahaha. Since we tend to be A LOT alike, we rubbed heads A LOT, more than our fair share of times we both would have liked I'm sure. I remember so many times as a kid how frustrated I got and how I didn't understand how he didn't understand me. hahaha...funny right? My papa and I both are rather strong willed people and we both like to have our way and we both think our way, is the RIGHT and ONLY way. So imagine that all growing up and then for me, as a teen. yeah, YIKES, for everyone involved!
Thankfully, my papa stood beside me through all of this and we realized eventually what it was the rubbed us the wrong way in our relationship. It only took some 20 years, but once I matured a little bit and understood how my life was becoming and once he understood who I was as well, man, it was pure joy for our relationship. Understanding this made a huge difference and I'm so glad that we figured it out.
I have ALWAYS admired my papa and his personality. I like that fact that I take after him and he has taught me SO darn much in life that I can't even say how that has impacted my life. I'm grateful for the work ethic that he instilled in us kids lives. My brothers and me work hard for what we want in life. He taught us to work hard for what you want and if you work hard for what you want, you can get it. Boy, has the proven right in our lives. I see my brothers and the hard workers they are in their jobs and in both of their families. They are both great dads now because of the way my dad was to them. Because he taught us to work hard, my brothers have provided great things for their families. For me, I'm still working hard, and at 28 years old, I'm back in school working hard to get a different degree (and for that matter, should have listened to him 10 years ago to go in the Medical Field, sorry dad!) :)
Just the other day, my manager at work told me that I don't stop and I keep wanting more to do. There was a gal that had just quit, probably about 5 years younger than me. And one of the reasons why she quit was "I'm tired of the BS." My manager and I talked about that and he said it was because she didn't want to work and that "kids" these days think everything should get handed to them and should come easy. I told, geez, I hope you don't think that about me. He stopped me and just said, "o gosh No...you've only been here 2 months and you've worked harder than most have their entire time being employed! You definitely know how to work hard for stuff!" Here is a guy, a manager, that I've only know for less than 2 months and he could pick up on this. I thought of my papa right away and was truly thankful for him because he is the one that taught me this work ethic. Both of my parents taught me and us kids how to work hard for what you want. They NEVER handed us ANYTHING. If we wanted a car, OK, go get a job and then get one. But they weren't paying for it. You want a car, great, you go the $$, now pay for your own gas and to fix it. We won't. I'm SO SO SOOOO glad they did that. As hard and frustrating as it was some days, to see your friends getting handed everything in life from clothes all the time, to cars, to electronics...I'm so glad I never got them without ME working for it. I appreciate the stuff more and I know what it means to get it!

Mostly, I"m so thankful for the love my papa gives me each and every day. Again, my papa and I butted head a lot as I grew up and I didn't always think my papa loved me. I know he did. And vis versa, I'm sure he didn't think I loved him or appreciate him. But I did! I'm thankful for today, and for the love my papa shows through and through. I know it took years for us to figure out HOW to show it to each other, but I'm so blessed to have a father who loves me and cares deeply for me and for my life choices. I couldn't imagine any better papa and I couldn't imagine how I'd be if I didn't have MY papa in my life. My life is how it is because of him. I thank the Lord for the papa I have and the lives my papa has touched, not just mine.

The influence a father has on his children is very impactful. But for those who can't experience the love of a father like my papa has given, know that there is a greater love of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. God love is unfailing and always giving. He will never fail you and will never turn from you. Our earthly fathers make mistakes, yes, that's human nature. But if your father has failed you and you can't experience a papas love, the great love you can have is that from the Heavenly Father himself. I know that His love is always there for me and when I feel like everything else around me is terrible and not right, God the Father is always there. My dad can't always be there for me, that's not humanly possible. But God can, and I'm so grateful for the love our Heavenly Father gives us.
I thank you Lord Jesus for the love you given all of us. I thank you for blessing me with such an incredible, loving papa for all 28 years of MY life. He has touched so many peoples loves, I thank you for what you have done in his life to make him who he is today as a papa, a husband, a friend, a brother...Thank you for my papa and what he has taught me. Thank you that when I can't be with my papa all the time, that you will ALWAYS provide me with the ultimate love a Father can give. I feel so blessed to have my papa in my life. I pray that you continue to give him wisdom and guidance in his life. Give him peace and joy and give him courage when he needs it most. There is so much that weighs heavy on a fathers shoulders with all the decisions in life, I pray that you continue to guide him and continue to poor your love onto my papa. Thank you for him and what he means to me in my life.