Dad

   Oswald Chambers talks a lot about abandonment, so I am going to go that route today and think about my dad instead of reflecting on the reading.

   The thing that got me to thinking along this line was reading my daughter's blog last night about her dad (me), and her perceptions of how she saw me while growing up and even today. I may have agreed with those perceptions, or maybe not, but they are true in her eyes.

   My dad was a hard working, honest, caring individual. He was a risk taker in business, a dedicated father, a leader who led by actions rather than words. He cared about family, friends and church. He was looked up to by those whom he was around, but did not look for a position of leadership, preferring to work behind the scenes instead of in the limelight. When he took time off to play, he played hard as well.

   What things do I remember about my time with him? Playing football in the side yard of our home in Chattanooga when he blew out his knee, playing badminton on the court in our back yard there, two week vacations with the whole family at a YMCA family camp with other families, working with him in his business, sitting in church every Sunday with the family. We may have talked some, but what I remember most are the things we did.

   I don't remember lectures on the right things to do. It seems that he expected his kids to see what he was doing and thinking, and what ideas and principles were important, realizing their worth and following in that path. He let us make our decisions, and he let us fail. He raised us to be independent, and when we were out on our own, did not interfere in our lives. I'm sure he cringed at some of the things we did, and decisions we made, but I do not remember him being critical.

   He and my mom were good parents, taking care of our welfare and guiding us in the right pathways. As I look around today and hear some of the stories of dads from others, I know I have been blessed by God.

   I also know that, as I write this pretty early in the morning, that I will think of many more things as I go through the day that I wished I had said. Maybe I'll give it a sequel tomorrow.

   Anyway, my prayer today is one of gratitude for the life of my dad, and what he stood for.