Father's Day Thoughts...

It's very late but I still wanted to get this in before the end of the day on Father's Day. It's a different kind of post. Perhaps not what you might have expected but here it goes...

Thought One: My kids gave me such a nice day today. I feel very grateful to have such wonderful children. Camille had made this beautiful card with the "Top 10 reasons why I love my dad" and she read each one a couple of times just to make sure I heard them all. I feel very blessed for the opportunity to be a dad and for the children God has sent to our family. I do love being a dad every day!!

Thought Two: One of the speakers in our service today spoke about the legacy her father left for her. She said something that still rings in my ears...something to the effect that her father lived his life as a celebration and a testament to our Heavenly Father. A celebration...joyfully, a way to remember something or someone special, something to look forward to and prepare for. I like that idea about fatherhood. A testament...made me wonder to what degree do I resemble the attributes of our Heavenly Father in my father role? In what ways does my way of being a dad help my children gain a knowledge of and faith in their Heavenly Father? Something I will continue to ponder and act on. Plenty room to improve for sure!

With Camille & Josh

Thought Three: During HPG meeting/class we discussed obedience. Somehow we ended up discussing our roles as fathers and how to teach or help our children learn obedience. Among this diverse group of seasoned and capable men (many of them having served as bishops, stake presidents, temple presidents, HC councilors, seminary teachers, etc. and with a variety of professions such as doctors, engineers, business and sales executives, entrepreneurs, etc.), there were comments about how the different challenges of being fathers today, require a different kind of a father. The exchange was fascinating and it dawned on me that we were all very open to learning from each other and that both old and young have something to learn from one another. Being sort of in the middle, I'm trying to learn from both groups. I think there is much we can learn from others.

My wonderful dad with my
lovely mother

Thought Four: One of my favorite songs is The Living Years by Mike & the Mechanics. It's a great song with lyrics that carry a message that made me act long ago before it was too late. Fortunately, my father is still alive. We have always had a good relationship, and we've also had differences in how we've viewed things. But those are things that we have been able to discuss in the living years. I am grateful we have been open about how we feel. I did get to tell him all the things I had to say, and I don't have any regrets. We are great friends. He is my mentor still. He is my inspiration for much of what I do. I know some day he will no longer be in this world but while he's still here it's not too late to say that there is no frustration, only love and that as a father now, I share your hopes and fears, and that I am glad I get to tell you in the living years. If you haven't told your dad, I invite you to do so while you can.

Hope you had a wonderful father's day and that you'll have another one again tomorrow!