After dinner, Dad would help Mom with the dishes or get out the vacuum cleaner, and he still does. He has always believed in teamwork—that it’s more important to get the job done than to worry about whether a certain task is your rightful role.
Dad taught us that when something needs to get done, you can’t just say, “That’s not my responsibility.” By his actions as well as his words, he taught us that when you’re part of a family, everyone must help each other. And I grew up watching Mom and Dad work together as a great team.
Thoughtfulness
My dad set me a great example of the importance of thinking of others before myself.
When I had difficult homework in a class like economics or math, I could always ask Dad for help. But there was a catch: I had to be sure I really wanted to learn the material, because he wouldn’t just help me get the right answers. He wanted to go the extra mile and make sure I understood “how” we got the right answer, so I could do it on my own the next time.
Sometimes getting Dad’s help on my homework was frustrating. From time to time, he would launch into an expository speech about a subject like the theories of economics—when all I wanted was to finish quickly so I could call a friend or go out. But I always was very grateful for the time he invested in me.
Dad traveled a lot when I was growing up, and he always liked to bring back gifts for Ben and me. I think “gifts” is the “love language” my dad speaks the loudest. To this day, when he and Mom go on vacations, I always seem to get a call from Dad, asking, “Can I bring you home anything?”
Family Traditions
Family traditions are part of the glue that helps bind families today, and one of the wonderful traditions in our house was having devotions at bedtime.
Mom and Dad came into my room and prayed with me at my bed at night. Sometimes they read a scripture and talked about it, and at other times we just sang songs to Jesus and prayed. Those memories are strong and beautiful to this day, and now I sing the same songs to my boys at bedtime.
Few people know my dad’s playful side and how much he loves to have fun. I have fond memories of camping trips…cookouts at the ocean…visits to Disneyland…barbeques in the backyard…eating on TV trays while watching the Cosby Show…and buying extra tickets at the movies so we could see a second or third show.
My dad taught me not only to work hard, but also to play hard. This is a balance I’ve sought to bring into my own family.
Advice and Support
Throughout the years, Dad has been a constant source of advice, support, and love. Whenever I need him, he’s there with grace and understanding.
I once had a boyfriend who broke up with me, and I was devastated. I thought my world had come to an end and, to make things worse, Mom happened to be out of town at the time.
I’ll never forget Dad coming into my room and sharing Jeremiah 29:11-13 with me. He encouraged me that God had a plan for my life, and if this guy wasn’t a part of that plan, then God must have someone even better for me. (And He did…my husband Chip!) I tucked that wisdom into my spirit and still use it when things don’t go quite as I’d imagined they would.
During my college years, God was trying to woo me to a place of intimacy with Him, but I was struggling to trust Him with some deep wounds and fears I had. God spoke to me one day and said, “I have given you an earthly father who loves you deeply. As you trust him, trust Me too.”
In that moment, something clicked for me. I learned to crawl into Abba’s lap and rest.
Many of you may not have a close relationship with your earthly father, which can make it difficult to trust the Lord in this way. But our Heavenly Father’s love is unfailing and true, and if you learn to trust Him as your Abba—your Papa—He won’t let you down.
Leaving a Legacy
It’s such an honor to be able to work for Dad at Inspiration Ministries and partner with him to impact people for Christ worldwide through media.
Some people say that I’m just like my dad. If that’s true, I hope I’ve got his brains! He’s a great businessman, full of wisdom and integrity. Although we share an occasional hot temper, we always sincerely apologize within minutes. And Dad and I share a deep love for my mom, who is one of the greatest ladies on the planet!
Now that I have a family of my own, I get to put into practice many of the life lessons my dad modeled for me: teamwork, thoughtfulness, generosity, family traditions, having fun, and seeking God daily.
Parenting is definitely one of the most difficult jobs in the world, but I believe with all my heart it is also the highest calling. We must embrace it while we can, because time goes by so quickly.
If you missed opportunities for involvement with your own children, take time with your grandchildren. My favorite part of living in Charlotte is that our boys get to grow up close to my parents, “Papa” and “Moms.”
I think our boys would live at Mom and Dad’s house if I let them! All the things I remember in my daddy as I was growing up, he now is modeling with my boys. The bond they share is very special.
Thank you, Dad. Happy Father’s Day!
With love,
Becky