Part of being a good father is all the funny things they have to tell their children – like the ones you see in the image I’ve chosen for today. How many times have you used phrases like, “I had to walk a mile to school every day – in a blizzard – with plastic bread bags inside my boots – with the wind in my face.” or “You have no idea how good you have it.” The things we say to our children can have a fierce effect on them as they begin their own families. It seems history often repeats itself and we find ourselves saying the same silly things.
As far as discipline is concerned, when I was a child (I really dislike that phrase as well.) spankings weren’t considered child abuse, but my dad never laid a hand on me. The piercing glare in his eyes was like a double-edged sword. Those looks were more painful than any spanking. His sharp words were also hurtful, but in the long run they held more clout than anything. I now realize that those looks and words were intended for my good, but at the time I didn’t think so.
Despite the fact that he wasn’t the “Father Knows Best” dad that all kids wanted their dads to be, he did the best he could. Living with three females couldn’t have been easy for him. Getting time in our one-bathroom apartment, was an accomplishment in itself. At the least he must’ve felt outnumbered, but he knew how to stand his ground. I know he loved us, even though he didn’t often say it. He would brag about us when we weren’t present, because he didn’t want us to get big heads.
I learned some valuable life lessons from him even though I didn’t realize it at the time. I learned to work hard for the things I wanted in life. In fact, I learned to do more than was expected. I also found that life isn’t always easy and that we have to take the good with the bad. I discovered that I should never underestimate myself or my abilities. He taught me to dream.
My dad was only 61 years old when he died. Before his death I wrote him a letter to express my love for him. Here is an excerpt from that letter:
“When I was growing up there were times I couldn’t understand you. I often thought you didn’t know a thing. When I became a parent, I realized that you were one of the wisest men I’ve ever known. You shaped my life into something I can be proud of. Our children are with us for such a short time and we’re never sure if we’ve done all we could for them. You did your job, Dad. I hope you know that and because of it I will love you forever.”
Being a perfect dad is impossible, just like it’s impossible to be all that God wants us to be. We can try to meet the requirements, but we always fall short. The beauty of God’s Fatherly love is that He looks beyond our imperfections and loves us anyway.
atimetoshare.me 
Love this!
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Thanks Karla.
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Mama K, I have tears from the letter you wrote to your Dad. And our heavenly Papa–he looks beyond our faults and sees our needs. What a timely message you give us. You always speak the words of wisdom and truth. In such amazing and powerful ways! Thank you for reminding us that perfect love, and parenthood, are found only in God! I love you!
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It took me a long time for me to believe that my Father God was the only perfect dad.🥰
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Thanks, Kathy. I was not a fan of my Dad when I left the house at 18, but after I was a dad myself for awhile, I learned to cut my father some slack.
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Same here💕
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My dad had his own favorite lines, none of which I ever heard used by anyone else’s dad. The two I heard most frequently were “I’m going to skin you alive!” and “I’m going to wallop you till you bleed!” Those tended to be for minor infractions. If he was really ticked off, he’d say “I’m going to beat you so hard you’ll have scars on your body till the day you die!”
Yeah, the old man had issues.
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I guess he did have issues.
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I’m groaning because I think I’ve said all those things at one point or another. Ugh, my poor kids. Ha, ha.
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Your kids had a good dad. None of us is perfect except our Heavenly Father.
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Thank you. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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This was excellent. Thank you.
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Blessings Kathy for sharing the goodness found in this post. Your loving letter to your father brings pause to my own journey of fatherhood. While my own Dad raised five sons and a daughter, I was blessed to raise three daughters. As I have reached senior status, I look back with appreciation for what their love has taught me.
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Isn’t it such a blessing to look back those years and see God’s hands in the process?
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