What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the holy Spirit to those who ask him? - Luke 11:11-13
I have a good father. But, I have not always appreciated nor shown my appreciation. I could go way back and talk about the things my father has done for me, but when you're that young you don't really notice or give much attention to them because you're little and it's what parents are supposed to do. But, when you get older, you figure well, for the most part them doing things to take care of you will mostly taper off. Not in my experience.
One of the biggest areas where my father has assisted me and my family has been in our cars (we've also lived with them for a while but this is about the cars). First of all, one of the cars I have now he purchased when I was in college without even telling me. I walked out and there it was. I was really confused. But since then, they've even supplied us with another car. When Erika's car went ca-put my father ended up turning his car over to her. He is a good father.
My father is a very diligent person and pays attention to detail. He takes care of the things he owns, especially his cars. I've learned a lot about cars from him. There have been times when something needed fixing or replacing on one of our cars and I'd know about it and plan to take care of it later, fix it later, save up for it, but my father would come in and purchase or fix what needed to be fixed without even telling me. At times this made me mad. Sometimes I wanted him to show me how/walk me through a process but he'd fix it without me. Other times I just felt like he was stepping in and not allowing me to be the man and take care of my things (seriously, how immature). But he is a good father.
My father is the kind of person that will bend over backwards for others. This is a little off topic, but he is always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Whether it be neighbors, people stuck on the side of the rode (my mom always fussed at him for that), or especially family. He and my mom are always going back and forth taking my grandmas to their doctor appointments, fixing things around the house, etc. On most Saturdays my father is working on Habitat for Humanity houses. Most recently, two Mondays ago, I was going to pick Erika up from the airport and my parents were watching the girls. I stopped to watch a one day event of the new Batman: The Killing Joke movie. As I left to pick up Erika, my car wouldn't start. I called me father to pick his brain about what it might be. In the end he was offering to drive all the way out to check it out or even pick Erika up. I'm talking 9/10:00 at night, 45 minutes away from home. I got a tow truck and he got it started by tapping on the starter so he didn't have to come out. I have a good father.
Back to our cars, both needed new tires. I knew the Honda needed them but I didn't realize how bad. And the Oldsmobile needed them. My father had already told me it needed them. A couple weeks ago we got the Honda tires replaced as well as a new alignment. I was planning on taking care of the Olds in the next couple weeks. But, one morning my father comes in my room and asks if he can take it to put tint on the windows. I was so groggy but I eventually understood what he was asking. How do you say no to that? But, then, a day later I walk outside...brand new tires! I was on my way to work so I texted my father asking if he had replaced the tires and this was his response:
"Life time alignment, two tires planned but had to buy a third because a nail was in a non repairable area. Car will need battery soon. Ordered new front rotors and brake pads. Was waiting to talk later."
What? Are you kidding me?! Honestly, this is a Godsend due to our next adventure in life as a missionary family. And, we're in the midst of fundraising which is going slow so this is a huge financial burden off our back, especially after taking care of the other car.
I know some will think I'm gloating. I know some will think I'm spoiled...maybe. I don't come from a lot of money. We aren't wealthy. I had a father who is smart and is a hard worker, doesn't talk much, but shows his abundance of love by serving. And I know I'm mainly talking about material things. Trust me, there is a ton more I could mention about how my father would spend tons of time with us after a few weeks offshore, how he took us all on fishing trips individually, how he wrote me letters over the years apologizing for all the time he spent away offshore when we were younger. But, honestly, that time away was never really a big factor because of the love he poured on us when he was home. I choose to mention these more recent things because these are things he doesn't have to do but chooses to do. These things I don't expect him to do. And I'm not saying that if other fathers don't do this, they aren't good fathers. Some aren't able to and some raise their kids differently. But, this is how my father serves. So yeah, maybe he does take away from me having to pay for or fix something (that's not the intention and is that really something to complain about), but I am being loved and given many lessons on how to love my wife, my children, and those around me. I have a good father who truly mirrors my good good Father in heaven. I hope I can do the same.
