On My Mind, Out of My Heart

I want to take advantage of the opportunity to say thanks to the "Dads" in my life. I don't think I really appreciated the blessing of having strong Christian men in my life until I had sons. We live in society where good male leadership is becoming extinct. I am so thankful that I have three wonderful men to be examples to my boys.

My Dad is one of my greatest heroes. He was raised in a broken home, his parents divorced when he was in his early teen years. His father was an alcoholic the entire time my father was growing up. He finished high school and enlisted in the Navy. During this time he also turned to alcohol to fill his emptiness. After his discharge he went back home to LA. He was working delivering groceries when my Mom saw him walking down the street. They had gone to school at the same time, but were several grades apart and did not really know each other. She told her friend that she was shopping with "there's the man I'm going to marry". Of course her friend thought she was nuts since his reputation was well known. She went over and invited him to revival services that night, and he accepted. I know that it doesn't always work this way, but sometimes God shows his power in more miraculous ways than others. The evangelist, Donald Cassidy, asked my Dad if he wanted to get saved, my Dad said "yes" went to the altar and it was done. He has never looked back, from that night on he has never taken another drink of alcohol. I am so thankful that he broke the cycle that had prevailed in his life, and gave me a start of creating a whole new cycle. He loves my boys dearly, and I love that they have such a wonderful man to call Paw Paw.

I think sometimes that father-in-laws get overlooked, I certainly do not want to let mine feel unappreciated. I thank him so much for raising the wonderful son that I now call my husband, I know that it was largely due his prayers and example that Harold is the man that he is today. He is not a man of many words, but when he speaks it is always with patience and wisdom. His unfailing love for his children and grandchildren is evident by the respect they give him. He is another one of those people that I have never seen lose their cool when faced with a difficult situation. I've never seen him get angry even when there are little boys hanging all over him. I am very proud that he is my boys Pa Paw.

Someone recently said "how easy it is to fall more deeply in love with a man that you have watched change a dirty diaper or wrestle on the floor with his children". This is definitely true.

I am so blessed to have a husband that is not afraid to give baths or take care of infant all night while I work. I believe that the extent to which a Dad is willing to get involved in the everyday care of his children greatly effects the way those children turn out. This is even more important when you have boys. People usually blame psychological issues on their mothers, but sin issues are usually blamed on the father. Homosexuality and pornographic issues could be avoided if we had more men willing to be the leaders and examples to their sons that they should be. Harold is the "father figure" that I always dreamed my children would have. Nothing moves him more than his sons. Nothing can make him laugh or cry like his boys. He was gone overnight to Haiti last night and no one could have been missed more. They kept asking me "if Dad were coming home tonight would it be time for him yet". Thanks for being the "best Dad a boy could ask for" and "the best husband I could have ever asked for".