Tha Man

           I don’t like losing, bullies, selfish people, spinach, speed limits, going to bed at night, getting out of bed in the morning, bills (unless they are green and mine), gas prices, talking on the phone, weddings, funerals, hateful people, heat, cold, alcohol, exercise, drugs, soccer, poverty, self-absorbed people, politics, lies, hypocrites, being stolen from, onions, the devil, addiction, being disrespected, being ignored, Pepsi,  pessimists, and if I sat here long enough I could think of more but I want to get to the other list.

            I like winning, helpers, meat (cow, pig, chicken, fish, etc…), potatoes, basketball, being fit, patient people, giving to others, honest people, hard workers, golf, driving fast, football, great music no matter the genre, having a place to call home, vacation (Monday here I come), missions, missionaries that make a difference, to read, to go (honestly, just go), to rest, meeting people, helping people, sweets (brownies, cookies, pie, OREOS, cakes, yeah all of them), milk (you can’t honestly love sweets and not love milk), church (if you don’t like church then you should try the one I go to), learning, critics (really I do, if there are no critics then you don’t learn), friends, guns, Coca-Cola, water (swimming, skiing, tubing, relaxing), AC, preaching/teaching, and this list would go to “infinity and beyond” if I don’t stop.

            But really! Do you want to know what makes me tick more than anything else? I know you do or you wouldn’t still be reading. There are a just a few things that are more special than food, basketball and golf. I love being married. I love the fact that Tammy and I are committed to Christ and each other (in that order). I love going to bed with her, waking up with her, laughing with her, watching her goof off with the kids. Oh, and I love being a dad. I don’t think you understand how much I love being a dad. I mean, I hurt so badly for parents that don’t have a relationship and time with their children. It hurts deep. After my relationship with Christ and Tammy, this is the reason I breathe. It is so painfully wonderful to see them grow into young adults. Kelcey, in her last year of college as a strong, Godly young woman who is going to change the world with her smile that lights up a room and her love of God that keeps her smiling. Jordan, larger than life, ever the gentleman, making others smile with his quick wit and joy. He’s gonna make a difference too, you know?

            Have YOU ever looked at your life and thought to yourself, “What did I do to deserve such blessings?”

            I do often, I did today! I am not worthy of the family that I have. I don’t deserve the blessings that God pours down on me daily. But I promise you this: I will continue to live as if I don’t deserve them but at the same time trying to be worthy of them. Not taking for granted the air that I breathe, the ground that I walk on, or the relationships that I have been fortunate to have, I will work every day as if it were my last. I will strive to treat every person as a child of God whether they embrace me or not. Trying to reduce “bad attitude” days and increase the good ones. I am not perfect but I will not abuse that fact by treating people poorly and blaming it on that. If given the opportunity I will ask for forgiveness and I will forgive. I will work hard and provide for those given to me by God to care for. I will lead my family by example. I will be the most loving in my family, most forgiving in my family, most disciplined in my family, most humble in my family. I am a man and that it is what God expects from me.

            I will mess up but I will not give up. I will own my actions. I am not a victim and will not be. You may not like me but you will respect me, not because I make you, but because my character demands it. I will not assume that I have “arrived” until Jesus welcomes me to heaven. Until then I will live in the knowledge that I will fall short and must press on. I want you to like me but if you don’t it won’t change me.

             A lot of this is spoken in faith. Faith in God and who I can be in Christ. But I believe that as a man this should be our attitude. God has given us a mandate to lead people to Christ starting with our families. A calling that doesn’t rest but continues to call out to us to live above the standard set by the world we live in and become special.

            Show the world that the gentleman isn’t an antiquated pastime. Show the world that there are real men out there that will stand up for what is right and fight against what isn’t. Be a man. Be someone to be respected! Be Godly! Be who God called you to be.

  
Pastor Dad