Happy Father’s Day. For some of us it is a day of celebrating and honoring our father, for some of us it is a day of sorrow and remembering our father, and for some others of us, it is a day of wishing they had a father or that their father was more involved in their lives.

My dad was a truck driver. He was home almost every weekend. To me, it’s just how it was. I didn’t envy my friends that had their fathers every day. Maybe that’s the introvert in me that’s ok with being alone. I know he worked hard and I have my work ethic from him. I wasn’t as close to him as I should’ve been but when he was gone all week and I didn’t talk when he was home I guess it was what it was. When he was home and wanted to teach me how to work on a car I wanted sports and girls. It didn’t affect the way I am as a father, except maybe I want to be home every day to be with my children. He was a great dad though and through all his good and bad it taught me valuable lessons on what to do and not do.

When I think about it, I know I never considered how hard it must have been for him. All the sporting events , all the little moments, and all the big moments he missed. The life of a truck driver back then was harder than it is now. Less truck stops, practically no healthy foods, no exercise (no 24 hour gyms).  All those things affected his mental and physical health. Not to mention the agent orange and Vietnam War he also dealt with.

He was also an awesome drummer who could play anything by ear. I could bring home Skillet or Bon Jovi or Luke Bryan and he could play right along without ever hearing the songs before. He played in bands and in bars since he was young so that didn’t help his health any either.

If I really think about it, he had 3 strikes against his health. (bands/bars, truck driving, Vietnam). I wish he would’ve taken better care of himself so he could still be here. I know he would be proud of me, he always said he was.

Call me weird but I have never felt the need to be accepted by anyone. Maybe I am lucky that way. Maybe I have just always felt accepted by my parents and by God. I know a lot of children live to be accepted by their fathers and when they are not, they try to find that acceptance elsewhere – which is always bad. Listen up dads, tell your children every day how much you love them, how much you are proud of them, how much you appreciate them and how much you accept them, even when they make mistakes. A spilled glass of milk cleans up easy in a few minutes, the harsh words you yell at your kids for making the mess will last a lifetime.

No matter what kind of dad you have, please believe you have a father that loves you and accepts you for who you are. Your Father in Heaven will always have his arms open for you, His words will always guide you, and His love for you will never fail. Trust in that and trust in Him.

However you are feeling about your father today I pray that you will be thankful for him. Without him you wouldn’t be here reading this today and without him you wouldn’t be able to make a difference in this world. You can make a difference.

If today is a struggle for you because your dad wasn’t there for you, maybe today can be a day of forgiveness and reconciliation for you.

Thank you dad for being the hard worker, teacher and example for me to follow. Thank you for loving me. Thank you Father for always being there for me, for accepting me for who I am and for waiting for me to come to you.

John 16:27  “No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

1 John 3:1  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles

John 17:23 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus

Ephesians 3:14-15 I have always been Father, and will always be Father

John 1:12-13  My question is ~ Will you be my child?

Luke 15:11-32 I am waiting for you

Father’s Love Letter – 

Through My Father’s Eyes by Holly Starr – 

Dad, You’re My Hero by Teresa James – 

He Didn’t Have To Be by Brad Paisley – 

Things My Father Said by Black Stone Cherry – 

I Wish I Could by Collin Raye – 

A Father’s Love by Bucky Covington – sometimes dads show their love by what they do, not what they say

Father’s Day by Butch Walker – 

That’s What Daddys Do by Billy Ray Cyrus – 

Love Without End Amen by George Strait – 

Drinking Beer With Dad by Kid Rock – 

I Want To Be Just Like You by Phillips Craig & Dean – 

The Man I Want To Be by Vern Swedin – 

Tough Little Boys by Gary Allan – 

Dance With My Father by Kellie Coffey –

A Song For Dad by Keith Urban – 

Song For My Father by Sarah Mclachlan – 

The Father’s Song by Matt Redman – 

How Deep The Fathers Love For Us by Skillet among many others but had to pick my fav band –