The Weirdest Father’s Day Ever

I’ve celebrated Father’s Day with my own Dad in the picture for my whole life. He was a good dad in so many ways. Faithful, dependable, loving, provider, wise, tough. He was stern when he needed to be. Sure, he had his flaws and we all got to see them up close and personal. He was human, after all. He loved my mom ferociously and would have done anything for her. Dad was opinionated but knew he didn’t need many words to express himself. I didn’t see or hear him cry until he was begging me to come home after running away in 1980. (I ran away with my girlfriend to be with her— not to be away from him.)

He loved Jesus and exemplified what a follower of Christ should be.

My favorite thing over the last few decades was expressing my emotions through writing in his Father’s Day card. He almost always got choked up and could barely get out the words, "Thank You." Seeing him misty-eyed made my day. I know I am weird.

I bought him many books over the years— he read all of them and the ones I wrote, too.

He encouraged me in so many ways.

Today, I miss him.

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