Father's Day

Father's Day 2008 is just around the corner. As far as I am concerned, my kids have the best Dad around. If you have any doubt, just ask their Mom. I'm not the best Dad because of anything special in or about myself. My kids make me the Dad that I am. I am as proud as can be of my children. They are more precious than anything else I have...aside from their mother.

My son, Phillip, is incredibly talented. He will be 9 come August. He loves to sing, he has a tendency toward the dramatic, and he is always flitting about. The flitting (dancing) gets on my nerves, but I am beginning to think it might be OK to acknowledge a natural talent for dance in there too. Phillip has a courage that I never had at his age. He can stand in front of hundreds of total strangers and speak, sing, act, dance, you name it. When he was four I took him to Carowinds. He heard an announcement that the karaoke show was about to start. He asked me what it was so I explained it to him. He wanted to go watch. People were picking songs from the list and signing up to sing. Phillip begged me to let him try. Only problem was, we don't listen to the kinds of music they had recordings for. I asked if they happened to have Jesus Loves Me or something for kids. They did! So, Phillip sang Jesus Loves Me in the karaoke show at Carowinds. He got a standing O!! Phillip is mature beyond his age. In fact, that is one thing we share in common. When I was his age, I was always more comfortable around adults than I was around kids. Phillip also has good taste in clothes. If I could afford it, I am sure he would be the best dressed kid in school. He does the best he can with what we can give him. He even has an eye for fashion for other people. He often comments on what he sees people wearing. He has helped his mother shop for clothes. His opinion counts. Phillip is a really neat kid. I am truly blessed that God has given him to me for a while.

My daughter, Sara, is my beautiful princess...my little Bug. I started calling her Bug when she was born and it stuck. She will turn six this year. Sara Bug is a wonderfully generous little girl. She is quick to share whatever she has...even to the point of giving it away. Once, we were in a restaurant that had a collection box with a picture of a little girl by the register. She asked what it was for. It was for sick children or something like that. Sara wanted to put money in the box. One day some time later, we were in McDonald's and she found a 5 dollar bill on the floor. We asked the only person nearby if it was his and he said no. So, I told Bug it was hers since she found it. She got so excited about that money. Before I knew what she was doing, she ran over to the register and stuffed the money into the Ronald McDonald House collection box. It never even occurred to her to spend a dime on herself. One lesson Sara somehow learned early was that we should love everyone. She isn't always great at it...but who is? Sara is my independent child. Many times, she will do the complete opposite of what she is told or asked to do. My wife and I have jokingly said to ourselves that when we want Sara to do something, we should tell her not to do it. You know how there is always a line that shouldn't be crossed? Well, Sara was put on Earth to test those lines. Even when the line is explicitly defined by her Mom, or me, or whoever, Sara Bug will push the line just to see if it moves. She was in kindergarten this year. Her teacher gave a daily mark on a calendar for how her day went. Smiley faces, straight faces, and, of course, sad faces. It took Sara a while (to Thanksgiving) to get into a smiley face rhythm. The accompanying notes (sometimes epistles) would invariably explain that Sara was too bossy, or that she tried to take over the teacher's job. That's my girl! Bug was born to be the boss. God must have some idea of how I can do a good job with Sara Bug. I worry about that. I'm glad He doesn't.

Both of my children have been saved. I can't tell you how important it is for me to know that, while God has entrusted Phillip & Sara to me for a season, He has adopted them into His family in Glory. Sara asked Jesus into her heart just a few weeks ago. Phillip was saved when he was 6. That is great news, obviously. Some parents might rest in thinking they have done what God would have them do. But that is not all there is to it. Now, I need to take my role as Dad to the next level. We don't believe in "Fire Insurance" salvation in our home. We believe that Jesus calls us to a love relationship with Him. Bug already knows she should love everyone. Now she needs to learn how Jesus loves her and wants to show His love in and through her. Phillip has been saved a while longer, and he is beginning to show some growth. He likes to read the Bible. I love to listen to him read. Once in a while, he has an "Aha! moment" as he is reading. His eyes light up with understanding as he connects what God is saying to his own experiences.

Phillip & Sara have the best Dad around. I look forward to seeing them grow in life as well as in the Lord. This Sunday, when we celebrate Father's Day together, I want to give God the glory for giving me the chance to be a Dad. It is an incredible responsibility. But it is also a joy. My kids make me smile, they make me laugh, and they even make me cry. There is much that I have to look forward to with them. I hope to see Phillip grow up and use his talents to the glory of the Lord. I suspect Sara will grow up and take care of people. Her mother says she could become a lawyer because she argues so well. Where ever she ends up, I'm pretty sure she will be in charge. I pray that the best Father of all will hold my hand and guide me as I try to be the best Dad I can be.