Fathers…

Happy Fathers Day. Here’s a story about mine. For those that are clients of mine, you’ve likely been told this one a time or two. You’re welcome for the reminder…

Mom and Dad were in the front seat. My two sisters on either side of me in the back. We were driving out to Colorado on a family vacation. We must have been 12, 10, and I was 9. I started the commotion by tickling my sister in the side. Such fun. My other sis would try to stop me. A sharp elbow to the ribs till she cried like a baby. How much more fun could we be having? Dad was driving and would let this go on for a few miles as we made our way across I 70. Suddenly, without warning, he would pull the car over into the berm and get out. We got quiet. He didn’t say a word. He walked over to the right side of the car and opened it for Mary. Mary got out followed by yours truly and finally, KA. Dad would get back in the drivers seat and take off. He would go about twenty miles an hour down the berm as cars streaked by.

We RAN. We ran and ran and ran. We would start to catch up to the car and he would keep going. By now the Kansas sun is causing us all to sweat like sprinters, cause we were! After a mile or so of this ridiculousness, Dad would stop the car, get out and calmly walk around the back of the car and open the passenger side to the back seat. KA would slide in and over. I would do the same and Mary would finally plop in as well. Dad would close the door, get back in the drivers seat, and quietly we would make our way to Colorado.

My father was far from perfect. He was the kindest man I’ve ever met. He was tough too. He taught by example and I didn’t particularly like it either. My father led us, anyway. You see, fathers are called to lead even when it’s hard, even when they’re busy, even when they’ve got other jobs to do, even when they’re trying to drive. Fathers are called to lead their families. Fathers are expected to be fathers everyday.

Fathers model the way, embrace pain and suffering, and embody truth in Love. You worth imitating, dad? Slow down. Lead. Humbly repair. En brera. Thanks, Dad, for your example…

Live hard. Love ❤️ harder…