Daddies

Our Father....that has been on my mind every day all day lately. The use of the word father in the Bible for our Lord and Savior has just had me thinking alot. Wonder why that word was used? Why not mother? I think I have figured it out!

My mother is my best friend. I can tell her things, share goals and dreams, argue with her and turn around and go shopping within minutes. She is compassionate, understanding, loving, and no matter what decisions I have ever made in my life she supports me. But, as a mother, she is the first one to say "that's enough" or "you're being ridiculous" or "have you seriously lost your mind" and then there is my all time favorite "you're going to regret that one." And, 99.9% of the time, she's right. I can count on my Momma to be there when no one else is there. I can count on her to think of things that no one else in the world would even consider. I am 34 years old and I promise you at this very moment if I called my Momma and told her that you had made me cry she would hunt you down and tell you what for and if you made me cry hard enough, she just might claw your eyes out! My Momma is one for the record books.

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But my Daddy...he is an awesome earthly father. I personally think he hung the moon. He knows EVERYTHING in my opinion. Daddy lets me figure things out on my own. He sits back and knows I'm making a huge mistake but he never says a word. He always nudges me left and right but he just stays there allowing me to figure it all out for myself. He has very strong opinions on things and if you try to adjust his thinking in even the slightest you better be prepared to have a debate on your hands. His opinions are not easily swayed and he stands firm in his beliefs. My Daddy has a way of making things better for me in a way that other people just cannot duplicate. I love my husband dearly but when it comes down to it, I need my Daddy.

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A little over a year ago I was in a serious car accident. While standing on the side of the road immediately following the accident Shane called not knowing what had just happened. My first words when I answered the phone was "I've been in a wreck" and I hung up. Why did I hang up on my husband you ask...because I had to call my Daddy! Several years ago Shane and I had a flat tire on the interstate. Cars were flying by us and I would squint with fear every time an 18-wheeler zipped by because it seemed like they were so close to Shane as he was bent over changing the tire. What did I do the entire time he was doing this near death experience you ask...I was on the phone with my Daddy!

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As I grow a little older and a little wiser I sit back and I watch Shane father our children. I can remember thinking he was too hard on them or he didn't listen to them enough or he didn't do this or that like I thought he should. But, in reality, he is doing exactly what a father should do. He sits back when "drama" surrounds our daughter and he doesn't get involved until he needs to. And when the time comes for him to get involved he is like the Incredible Hulk. There is no stopping him until the mission is accomplished. He is compassionate and caring with our children but at the same time he is stern and doesn't allow them to talk their way out of a mistake or broken rule. Me, well I'm a pushover. I can stand there and talk for hours and my children have learned this about me. They know that if they talk long enough and say it just the right way I can eventually get over what they did and more than likely they can get me so side tracked that I even forgot what we were talking about but not their Daddy. He keeps them focused on the issue at hand and if discipline is what they need then discipline is what they get. When my kids are sick, they want their Daddy. When they are heartbroken, they want their Daddy. When they need advice, they want their Daddy.

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Oh, don't get me wrong, they come to me too. We have laughed around our house and said I am like the first step and Daddy is the final step. Kristina and Gabe come to me with every day issues and questions but when it comes to getting down to business they go to their father. They know that when no one else is standing there with them their father is right there.

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I'm sure you know Matthew 6: 9-15 the Lord's Prayer. "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

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I know there are alot of people out there who don't have wonderful earthly fathers and that is sad but the reality of it is God is your father. He is the one who holds you accountable but he also loves you like no one else. He has all the answers and knows you better than anyone else. He is the one who keeps you in the fence and nudges you left or right but in the end the decision is ultimately up to you.