I have been thinking a lot about my Dad lately. He left this life almost 14 years ago, but there are still days I wish he was here to give advice. There are many days I do not feel prepared to be a dad or even old enough/mature enough to be a dad.
My dad was a unique man. He always had a distinct smell, I always attributed it to him working with and being around chemicals all day. In my mind he was always a little awkward, physically and socially. But that was dad.
There were times he would get pretty upset with me because he did not know when my games were, or when a performance was, or an awards ceremony, but I know I told him, at least once. Then there were times after a game, or performance, or ceremony that he would come over and tell me how proud he was. There was a time in 7th grade when he came to our first home football game. I broke my arm in the first quarter, Mom came over to the Ambulance where they were putting a splint on my arm, and then she began to try to find a way for us to get to Amarillo so I could get a cast. It was not until after the game when someone said something about my injury that my Dad realized I was the injured player. There was another time in Jr High when I was supposed to sing a special during worship on Youth Sunday. At the last minute my special was cut because we were going to get out too late and some things had to be cut. When we got out of Church 20 minutes early Dad had a few words with our Youth Director. But that was Dad.
There were times I was horrified I was related to him, and other times I could not have been any prouder. To this day there are things I cannot figure out why he did what he did. But I always knew that he loved me. But that was Dad.
My Dad, and many others, have taught me what it means to be a dad. As my children grow, I hope to be the example to them that so many have been for me. I hope that my kids will be able to look past my quirks and my odd habits and see my love for them.
