Thinking about Father’s Day and the important men in my life, I realized I am treasured.
I am a woman who is loved by her husband. He provides for our family by working hard outside the home and maintaining the inside with his amazing carpentry and fix-it skills. He protects us, teaches our children that life is meant to be fun even while role modeling what hard work looks like, and provides a wonderful example of what it means to be a man of faith. God answered many prayers when He brought my husband into my life and I thank Him daily for the blessing of a man after His own heart. Our sons are blessed to have their father as their role model and our daughter will be a blessed woman if she marries a man with the qualities her daddy possesses. Among other things includes the smile reserved just for me, the laughter that fills our house on a regular basis, and all the inside jokes that stay between the two of us. We were best friends when we got married and have only grown closer the longer we share life together. I loved the excitement of life after we said “I do,” have fully embraced our role as parents to three incredible children, and am excited to see what God has planned for our lives when this chapter is complete and we’re in the next stage (which won’t be for quite a while). From remembering the little things to purposefully celebrating the big things, my husband shows me his love always.
My father: when I think of him, I think of a man who loves to take care of people, especially “his girls.” Growing up, my father taught us how to take care of ourselves, but also was quick to take care of us. I may not have inherited his gift for fixing things but not due to his lack of trying to teach me. A lot of what my dad did for us on a daily basis I took for granted, not on purpose, but because I grew up thinking everyone’s dad did those things. Nope! As I get older and see the effort and time he invested in our lives, my appreciation grows daily. He was, and still is, a man who prays for our family on a daily basis. His prayers were some that were answered when I said “I do” to my amazing husband, a man who treasures me for who I am as my daddy asked God for. My dad has baptized me and married my husband and me. He has also dedicated each of our children and had the privilege of baptizing our daughter. She is excited about the day her “Pop-Pop” will marry her and her true love, someone Pop Pop is already praying for even though we don’t know his name. Watching my dad’s face light up when interacting with my kids touches me to my core. Even as I’m writing this post, I just got off the phone with my dad. He was telling me of yet another blessing he was gifting to our family to make our life easier. I am treasured.
My father-by-marriage: In addition to being treasured, I’m realizing I’m a bit spoiled. My father-by-marriage has shown his love for our family from day one through his actions. No request is denied, no matter how big or small. Watching our dog when we’re on vacation, running to the store when I have sick children at home, seeing a cup with our family verse and buying it “just because,” mowing our lawn, shoveling our driveway, or rising early and coming to stand outside with me to wave to his grandchildren as they get on the bus are just some of the ways he has shown through his actions how treasured we are. As I write this, I just finished watching our littlest run across the lawn that separates our properties so he could spend time with Gramma and Papa. Watching two generations sharing memories regularly makes my heart happy. We are especially blessed because my father-by-marriage also believes in the power of prayer and covers those he loves with petitions to our Father on a regular basis.
To all the other men in my life: brother-in-law, uncles, grandfathers by blood and grandfathers born from the heart. I’m so thankful to each one for making me feel treasured and loved in their own special way.
Father’s Day: time to reflect on the past, cherish the moments today, and look with excitement toward memories which will be made in the future. Thinking about our boys becoming fathers themselves, if God allows, fills my heart with anticipation. They have many great role models to learn from who will offer encouragement, advice, and reminders that the best way to lead is by covering their family in prayer to the best Father of all. I have always said fathers have a harder job than mothers – they are the earthly example of our Heavenly Father. I am blessed to have been borne into the family I was and allowed to marry into the one God chose for me, each pointing me in the direction of our Heavenly Father and His unconditional love for all of us.
Who was instrumental in your life to show you what unconditional love from the Greatest Father of all looks like? If you haven’t been introduced to, but want to find out how to make sure you are a child of the most amazing Daddy, I’d be happy to have that conversation with you. Email me at clSwalwell99@gmail.com or comment in the section below.
© Cheri Swalwell 2014