What Daddy Does Best

It is a wise father that knows his own child. ~William Shakespeare

Recently I heard a talk-show where callers were encouraged to phone in and explain instances of how they were like their father. I was shocked to hear some saying how they wished they were NOT like their father. Ouch!

For those who have never yet had the privilege of knowing my father, I will share some ways he, as a parent, has sheltered me.

I remember when we moved to a new city I just had to have some privacy so I could soak in the sun’s rays. Dad, being the ‘do for others whenever’ dad that I love, went to the store and bought one [big] section of privacy fence for his seventeen-year-old daughter. He fastened that thing right to the top of our silver Skylark Buick (in lieu of the pick-up truck he had always wanted!) to cart it home. Hilarious, when I think back.

I WANT to be self-sacrificial just like my dad

I AM just like dad - I have the nail cutting chore around here for our family. So, guess what I tell them? “Papaw used to cut my nails with his pocketknife scissors!” (Because it seems more challenging, harder and frankly, downright scarier using scissors, I opt for clippers – in my hands those are scary enough!)

I am reminded of my daddy when my daughter takes her shoe off, props her foot in my lap and demands, “Rub my foot!” Oops. This has come back to bite me…I am sure my daddy is chuckling, thinking, “Payback time!”

 I KNOW what love is because of my dad -- I am one who never had to wonder all the time if God would love me, comfort or take care of me. I had an earthly father that showed God’s love through his own life. I am sure when we become parents, we don’t stop to think how this will help build the character of our grandchildren by the way we live in front of our own children. Dad would stay up so late in the evening for his special alone time, relaxing in the old blue lazy boy and also kneeling there in prayer before heading to bed; after giving of himself to his family and work all day.  

I can count on one hand the times my father spoke angrily or spoke out in frustration to or about my mother. This teaching and guiding -- letting me help with chores (whether it took longer or looked worse after I had helped) has showed that he loved me by doing and finding things I would eventually come to enjoy and/or need to do later in life.

    “Lord, I pray I can use these examples

       as stepping stones in my own way

          as I am raising my children

to become good little missionaries for You.”

Dear Dad,

Thanks for sheltering me with your gentleness, compassion and self-sacrificial love. 

                                                                                                   Happy Father’s Day!

                                                                                                         Love, Molly

                                                                                        Aka Melanie Lynn (Kuhn) Clemens

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