Much to my mother’s chagrin, I often view some of the holidays on our calendar not as legit, but as Hallmark Holidays, ones that different businesses hype up to guilt consumers into buying things they otherwise might not.
This year, though, it’s hard to look at Father’s Day that way. I’m feeling especially thankful for the fathers in my life. Without them, I wouldn’t be celebrating a six month anniversary with my hubby!
Daddy
The first man I ever loved, my Daddy is one of the very best men that I know. He is hard working, creative, kind, generous, and funny. It would be impossible for me to ever deny my paternity given I look quite a bit like him and his sisters, but I wouldn’t ever want to anyways. More than just a dad, he is one of my closest friends, and we still talk about shared common interests: books we’ve been reading, the news, recipes and cooking, and the happenings in our church.
I’m so thankful that my Dad gave the very best example of what a man should be for his little girl to look up to. I know that I avoided many a heartache because of him, his love that inspired confidence in me, and his encouragement never to settle. Words can’t express how thankful I am that God gave me to him and my mom to be my guardians while growing up. Especially now, in light of so many of the parenting fails I see on a daily basis, I am ever so grateful for parents–and today especially a Dad–who took their job seriously, and inquired of God how to raise the trust loaned to them from heaven.
Papa
Honestly, it’s still a little hard for me to call my father-in-law anything other than “Elder,” since that’s how I knew him for the six years before I ever had any inkling we would one day be family. But while it may be taking a little time to get used to change in title, I am very thankful for Papa. You see, if it wasn’t for Mo’s father’s intervention, there may be no Mo and me. He is the one who, before I had even met Mo in person, called me and told me that he thought we would be a good match. What started out as what I was sure would be an awkward blindish-date suggested by a parent turned out to be our happily-ever-after.
I appreciated my father-in-law and his ministry before meeting Mo, and now that I have come to know him better–as family–I admire him just as much and am so glad that he considered me someone worth adding to his family. He even refuses the title daughter-in-law, “too distant,” he says. “You are now another daughter.” Thank you Papa!
Halfiversary!
It so happens that Father’s Day also falls six months to the day from when Mo and I tied the knot. Halfway to our first anniversary! I can’t believe that it’s already been that long. I remember being at camp meeting last year and telling people that our wedding was six months away.
Six months in, and I would do it all over again. I am so thankful for Mo and blessing he has been in my life. He’s made me a better person, encouraged my spiritual growth, and is overall a blast to be with. One day, though not in the near future, I know that I will be singing his praises on Father’s Day about the wonderful dad that he is. For now, though, I am exceedingly happy to have him all to myself (when not sharing him with the church and our friends, of course), and so thankful he chose me.
Happy Halfiverary Mo! Here’s to many, many more.
