Well, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. For some that has elicited groans while for others it has prompted, “Oh shoot!” If you have not run off panicking about what to get your significant other, I would like to share a man who I love dearly. I could gush about my husband for pages, but this is not what I intend to do. I want to tell you about another man in my life, my dad.
I have found myself scrambling around holidays. My mom used to help me shop and put stuff together. Thus, Valentine’s Day took me by surprise this year. I wanted to do something special for my dad to show him I love him and encourage him this Valentine’s Day. Thus, I determined to share why I love this great man so much. This blog is in honor of him.
I’ve been a daddy’s girl as long as I can remember. I love my parents equally, but my dad and I are so much alike it’s scary. That can cause conflicts, but what relationship does not have its challenges? When he was in radio, I used to enjoy visiting him at the station. He knew his job very well. His voice possesses a certain quality that gets your attention and he loves music. This love of music he passed onto me. However, this meant that any and every song he played was accompanied with a history lesson. I used to get all annoyed, but now I find I cling to those memories. Before Christmas, my husband and I were in Wal-Mart, when American Pie began to play. Ray asks, “Who sings this?” To my surprise, I answered, “Don McLean.” Whether I wanted them to or not, many of the musical facts fed into my head have stuck. Actually, it makes me proud to be able to say, “Yeah, my dad told me that.”
As long as I can remember, my dad has wanted to be a teacher. He attended a Bible college to get his teaching degree, and upon graduation sought out to find a job. We made several moves believing God was opening new avenues, only to find dead ends. I did not understand the struggles my parents were facing then, but I recognize them now. My dad persisted though, and I remember mornings where I would hear the phone ring and soon my dad would be off to substitute for an absent teacher. He may not always have been in charge of an official classroom, but my brother (Matt) and I were always under his teaching.
His mom had done all she could to make sure he and his brother grew up to be well-rounded people. He and my mom both strived to pass this legacy on in Matt and me. Whenever there was something historical to witness, my father made sure we got to take part in it. Many nights I remember being ushered outside to view many astrological wonders. My neck would be sore, and sometimes it was cold, but as I stared up at that starry night sky I felt proud to be sharing in a once in several years event. Planets, shooting stars, meteor showers, comets, I’ve seen them all thanks to my dad’s enthusiasm. Now that I am married, I find myself missing these moments. A few months ago one of the planets was supposed to be visible. My husband and I eagerly ran outside to see what we could see. Unfortunately, all we could see were clouds.
My dad is always in teaching mode. He evaluates everything to see its potential as an example, demonstration, or lesson. If God presents him with an impromptu teaching tool, he embraces it. I was blessed to have my father as my second grade teacher at a small Christian school. One particular day there was supposed to be a solar eclipse. Of course, you are not supposed to look out the window when this occurs, to protect your eyes. My dad thought ahead though, and brought our tiny black and white TV in. He set it up on his desk, and we watched the eclipse live. I still recall that moment quite well. Being a naïve seven year old, I was scared, but being able to see what a solar eclipse looked like put me at ease. Nothing was too small to share with his class. He looked out the window, and realized hail was plummeting to the ground. A smile spread across his face as he excitedly called us over to watch it. I suppose if he had a magic school bus, I would compare him to Miss Frizzle, but then again, he has something she lacks. He has a godly foundation in all he shares.
I know my dad has a heart for God. He wants to pass along the events and challenges God has included in his life. I know very well that God puts things in my life that make me the person I am standing before you now. Likewise, He has invested many life altering lessons in my father’s life. It is no mistake that my father was in a home hit by a tornado, when he was younger. Fortunately, it has made him prepared for and aware of bad weather. More importantly, though, it equipped him with a great anecdote of God’s protection and an eye witness science lesson. I used his story when I had to do a science presentation on tornados in ninth grade. Ninth grade was also the year I found myself sitting in my dad’s classroom again. This time it was Bible. Unfortunately, we did not get too far into C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. I wish we had, but I am glad my dad introduced us to it. He was a welcome ally on the high school retreat. All of my friends (also his students) knew we were going through some hard times, so they formed a circle around us and prayed for us. That’s the kind of impact my father has on people, if they are willing to take hold of all he has to say.
In all our moves and travels, I have visited and experienced things that few people are able to. I have been to Mount Rushmore, walked on Mount Rainier, stuck my face in one of those astronaut cut outs in Alabama, swam in the ocean at Panama City, been to the top of the Empire State Building, went to some classes in Nova Scotia, felt the mist off Niagara Falls, posed with a giant cow statue in Wisconsin, lived in a church’s missionary apartment for a short time, along with many other experiences that have shaped me just like He has shaped my dad. I use my teaching bug in other outlets, such as writing. I love to pass along how God has touched my life and reveals His truth to me daily. Teaching in some form or another is in me, and I cannot deny this. If I end up in a profession where I find myself training up others whether it be a classroom, ministry or something else, I am armed with many life experiences that will enable me to help others who are just about to step into the same snare I found myself in or I have a common interest that I can use as a sage way to get to deeper issues.
I love my Heavenly Father for giving my earthly daddy the gift of teaching. My life could have been bland and my parents could have been afraid to take risks, but they followed God’s leading. Both my parents have now been teaching at the same school for four years. My dad teaches history, Bible, and at one point some science (not sure about this year), on the middle school level. He truly gets into his role. When he has to teach about a country, he sometimes will have a student bring in some of its ethnic foods. I got to try some coconut, thanks to one of those classes (bonus of being his daughter). My mom baked some hard tack for the students to try, while studying the Civil War. In fact, my dad got our family involved in reenacting. I got to dress up in period costume for a fashion show, and in the short time I was a part of the group, learned some interesting facts. My husband was also a part of the reenacting group, and well-known for his fife playing. That is the sort of dedication you will get from my dad. He is passionate about what he is teaching, and he wants his students to be as passionate about taking it all in. I understand how hard it is to sit in a classroom, especially when you go home with a teacher, but I know that he and my mom both encouraged my brother and me to grow and learn. I graduated with honors, and I know I have many different teachers to thank for this, including God, but I also thank my parents for being there to study with and to explain the mind boggling theory of the Marshall Plan (I got it all confused), helping me with the projects I procrastinated on, listening to me read my lengthy essays and many other things that aided me in accomplishing all that was a required of me. I only hope that if you find yourself privy to what he has to say, that you take it to heart and ask questions. He may not know everything, but he certainly makes sure he knows his subjects.
Thanks, dad. I love you!
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