Fathers

On this special day for dads
I thought it appropriate to share
some of the most beautiful moments in my life
involving Marty as a dad and my own dad.

Both moments took place in a hospital.


Marty has always been good with kids,
but it was amazing to see the love and tenderness
he exuded for each of our girls right after their birth.
After both Dorothy and Lucy had been cleaned off
and put into the warming tray,
I looked over to see Marty holding his very new baby's hand.
He was whispering sweetly,
introducing himself,
and would then sing a song.
That memory is so precious to me
and a moment I am so happy to have witnessed.

My relationship with my own father is strong now,
but was rather rocky through my teenage years and early twenties.
As some of you know,
during those rocky years I was in a very serious car accident.
My concerned parents showed up at the emergency room
and waited while x-rays were taken.
After the x-rays were finished,
we were put into a room to wait for the results.
By this point I had been laying strapped to a hard back board
with a neck brace on for a while,
and the back of my head was starting to hurt from the pressure.
My sweet father,
putting aside all of our differences at the time,
took my head and gently cradled it is his hands
to help relieve my discomfort.
My hair was all bloody from a head wound,
but he didn't mind as the blood covered his hands.
All he cared about was making me more comfortable.
In that moment nothing else mattered to him.
I knew I was loved--
even if my actions and attitude at the time
weren't very deserving.

I feel so blessed to have such wonderful men in my life.
Their examples of gentleness, compassion, and love
help me to better understand
the love that our Heavenly Father has for each of us.

Here's to you, dads.
I love you!

1. Marty
2. Lewis
3. Heavenly Father