Just Like Dad

 I have spent the first 37 years of my life fortunate enough to be the daughter of an amazing dad (see our story if you don't know it ).  But now I have also spent the last 5 ½ years watching my kids admire the awesome dads in their lives- and I will admit, it is so precious to see. 

 

I can’t lie, in the eyes of my children, it wouldn’t matter if I fell in a hole somewhere and never reappeared (except when they want something to eat) because I can’t begin to hold a candle to how amazing they think their daddy is.  If I come to pick them up from daycare I’m usually greeted with a sad face and asked “Why didn’t Daddy come get us?”  If something only allows one parent, Daddy is always the choice.  When there are bedtime stories to be read, it is always Daddy who gets the honor of reading.  When snuggles are needed they must always come from Daddy, and when Daddy can’t go somewhere with us there are usually a LOT of tears.  While I would REALLY love the opportunity to read a bedtime story every now and then, it brings me a LOT of joy to watch how much they love their daddy.  The bond they share is special and there is no doubt they want to be just like him.

Photo Credit: La Di Da Photography LLC

  I often watch them interacting and find myself humming one of the songs I know about little boys looking up to their dad.  Just this past Sunday, (a) decided he would wear a sport coat, because it is what (A) wears to church and he announced, “And I’m going to help Daddy do his job!” One day last week (b) decided he would put in contacts, because that is what (A) does every morning and while (A) was rescuing his contacts, (b) quickly grabbed the razor his daddy had set down and attempted to shave.  While it led to a cut on his cheek and another on his lip, he was determined to be just like Daddy.

 

And not only do they want to be just like their Daddy, they want to be just like OUR dads as well.  This spring, after watching my dad work in the sales box to talk commentary for a cattle sale, (a) made a determined announcement that “When I grow up, I want to be cowboy, a preacher, a superhero, and whatever Poppa Loran is!”  They have a ritual with (A)’s dad of singing a little song about riding a pony while they bounce on his knee, and now that he has younger siblings and younger cousins, (a) wants to bounce them on his knee and sing the song their Papaw sings.

Yes, this Father’s Day I’m so thankful for the guys who my little guys want to be.  And most importantly, I’m thankful they follow Jesus and set an example of Him for my little guys to see.  After all, He is the one I want them to be the most like.

 

Happy Father’s Day!!

 

“And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers…” Malachi 4:6