A Letter to my Dad

This line of thought stems from a conversation my Dad and I had the other day.
We spoke about how there are so many different characteristics of God the Father. He is a unique being with so many different sides to him. In different moments in our life, we see a Forgiving God, a God of Grace, a Loving God, a Sacrificing God, etc. In even his names you know him more:

El Deah - God of Knowledge
El Olam - The Everlasting God
El Roi - The God who Sees
Elohim - The Creator

Like our Heavenly Father, my own Dad has so many different sides to him. I see him in a way that no one else does. My own siblings see him in a way that's even different from my own view.

I've seen my young dad - the guy trying to figure out life and how to be the man his young family needs; I've seen my baseball dad - the man who loves every child so fiercely and treats every one of them like his own. This version of my dad has charisma for days. He makes friends so easily and makes everyone feel like his best friend. It's a true gift.; I've seen my remorseful dad -  a version of him that has hurt my trust and broken my heart in ways that are still difficult to talk about; I've seen my hurting dad - so deep into his own pain and depression.Words can't explain how hard it was to watch and know of nothing to do; I've seen my reverent dad - so completely aware and in awe of the grace that others and God have had for him. He sees grace and does not take it for granted even one second; I've seen my strong dad - who pulls himself up and dusts himself off every time; I've seen my loving dad - who thinks the world of me. He thinks I can do anything and be anyone. He thinks I can do no wrong. He views me as perfect and blameless (most of the time). Quite reminiscent of the way I think our Heavenly Father views us. No matter what we do.

But I think my favorite way I see my dad is the relatively newer one. One that makes me prouder than the other sides of him combined. It's the ALL IN dad. The one who so fiercely loves the Lord. Who acknowledges the grace upon grace the has been bestowed upon him and can't keep quiet about it! That's what the Love of the Almighty does. It demands to be heard and spread.

So I want to say a Thank You to my dad. For giving me such a beautiful glimpse of our Heavenly Father through you. If the love that you have for me and Austen and Kylie is this great, how much Greater is that of our Heavenly Father's love for us? I can't even imagine. Not everyone has a good image that comes to mind when they think of a Father. I have been blessed to have not only a wonderful and loving Father, but one that shows me what true redemption, repentance, and becoming a child of God looks like. Thanks for being you.