Go Beyond

I feel that, in many ways, growing older has given me a greater appreciation for my growing-up years. I am among those fortunate individuals who is the beneficiary of a childhood that I would live all over again in a heartbeat. My parents were the primary reason my wonder years were wonderful. Time and distance has sharpened my perspective on what they did to make those years memorable in a good way. On this Father’s Day I want to thank my Dad for five of most memorable things about my childhood.

Thanks for loving Mom. | Dad married the girl of his dreams. It was so blatantly obvious while growing up how much my Dad loved my Mom. He adored her. Dad was the consummate gentleman. I never heard him exchange an angry word with my Mom or speak to her in any unbecoming way. He always treated her with the utmost respect and kindness. Their love for one another made our home a very secure place.

Thanks for believing in me. | I recall a particular family road trip when I was seven years-old. From the backseat of our un-air conditioned 1962 blue Plymouth Valiant, I told my Dad that I wanted to be a … (whatever it was I wanted to be when I grew up at that time). While I don’t remember what it was that I wanted to be, I do remember Dad’s affirming reply. He told me that he thought I would make a truly great … (whatever it was I had told him I wanted to be when I grew up). Dad never stopped affirming his belief in my potential and continues to encourage me today.

Thanks for the homemade fun. | One of my very earliest memories is of Dad making kites for us. He constructed balsa wood frames and then carefully cut, wrapped, and glued grocery bag skins to the frames. Mom added fabric tails to these kites and then we headed out to one of the fields near our home on the edge of town. I still vividly remember walking out into the field and seeing our kites take to the air on that windy day. This was just one of our fun adventures as a young family.

Thanks for your integrity. | Through the years Dad taught me the value of honest and hard work. I sometimes went with Dad to his office when I was a kid and later worked for him when I was in college. It was during those years that I learned really good things about my Dad from his customers. They spoke highly of him because he treated others with courtesy, respect, and honesty. He expected me to treat others the same way.

Thanks for loving me. | The one thing that I am most certain of is that my Dad loves me. My Dad has always called me “mijo” — a combination of the Spanish words for “my” and “son.” However, to those of us who speak Spanish, this is an affectionate term, a contraction that conveys more than the idea of “my son.” It more accurately conveys the idea of “my beloved son.” Mijo is a tender term of endearment. Dad still calls me his beloved son.

I find it interesting that the first mention of the word “love” in the Bible is not in the context of a man’s love for a woman, but rather of a father’s love for his son — specifically Abraham’s love for his son Isaac (Gen. 22:2). And, the first mention of the world love in the New Testament is also in the context of a Father’s love for His Son. At Jesus’ baptism a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son. (in Spanish, “este es mi Hijo amado”) I take delight in Him!” (Matt. 3:17). I’m thankful for my Dad and for all of the ways in which he has expressed his love for me and my siblings through the years. I have a better understanding of God’s love for me because of the ways in which my Dad has faithfully demonstrated his love for me. Thanks, Dad. Happy Father’s Day. I love you, too.