For me…
no Father’s Day would be complete..
without a post about my own dad.
I’ve talked about him here before…
but honestly…
what you see on this blog…
both from myself and my brother…
is pretty much a reflection of him.
Well, to be merciful…
let’s adjust that…
and say the good is!
I realize that many people…
weren’t blessed with great dads.
Countless others…
think theirs is the greatest.
I know mine is.
His track record speaks for itself.
He stands at all times for truth…
and tries to live it as well.
His faith is both tremendous…
and unwavering.
He has lived both of these truths…
in spite of my brother Tim’s recent death.
He values people above all else on earth.
When there was a huge need…
for adult help in toddlers and preschool…
at the church we were attending…
he served in both areas…
for 3 years…
giving up his own senior class.
Because of this…
whenever and wherever he sees those kids…
he’s a magnet.
His love covers a multitude of sins.
One particularly challenging day…
one of these said children…
was simply horrid…
while his mother was having a social break…
at a group called “Mom 2 Mom.”
When she came to get him…
she asked point blank if he had been naughty.
My dad paused…
looked her in the eye…
and said, “You know…
the weather today…
what with the cloud cover…
and the unexpected humidity…
simply has everyone on edge.”
She and her feisty young lad…
made it as far as the exit…
where he broke away…
came running back…
and threw his arms around my dad’s legs…
exclaiming, “I sure do love you, Ralph!”
It’s pretty much a universal sentiment.
No title of Dog Whisperer for him!
He is pretty much in tune with the entire Animal Kingdom!
He bought a cheap parakeet when Tim and I were small.
It was 99 cents.
Seriously.
He was working grave yard at a job he despised…
but never complained about.
To unwind before bed…
he would work with that little bird.
Eventually…
that bird could talk like a parrot!
It had a vocabulary of over 100 words and phrases!
That same job…
eventually took most of his ability to hear at this point in life…
so I advocate for him with his former employer…
who must supply hearing aids and batteries for life.
When I drive him to his audiologist…
he still teaches me something…
through our conversations each and every time.
He is always seeking something new to learn…
and makes himself a student of the Bible every day.
Sometimes for hours.
He prays.
For the entire world…
so that would include you!
In fact…
that’s what he was doing in the photo here…
before he accidentally fell asleep!
He walks at least 4 miles every day…
because his health depends on it.
As has been the case…
with so very many things in his life…
what could be seen as drudgery…
he turns into something joy-filled.
Countless people…
for literally blocks and blocks…
know my dad.
I’ve had total strangers…
walk up to me…
in stores and on streets…
if they see me with him…
in order to tell me their stories…
of how my dad has helped or blessed them in some way.
You see…
he is struggling with many health issues…
at this point in his life.
One of which is his heart…
the other biggie…
his memory.
He works every day…
to attempt to keep it sharp.
While it could be…
and is at times…
a sad thing…
it is also inspiring.
For if and when…
he does forget…
on the flip side…
are countless individuals…
who never will.
Because he has given his life…
to bring joy, faith, and sincere relationship…
to others.
He’s a one-in-a-million dad…
with a priceless legacy.
It’s what life is all about.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
Teri, what a wonderful tribute to your dad! It’s such a blessing to read about your dad and how he worked to take care of his family and had such a positive outlook. Not all dads would be so willing to sacrifice themselves, teach classes for young children, and set such a loving example for other dad and for his own family. I wish everyone could have a dad like that! Thank you for sharing this post!
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