Only a DAD...

As I visited my dad in the hospital today, I really looked at him and his situation at this time in his 63 year old life.  It was not an easy thing to do because he is physically different from the man I fondly remember.  The healthy 25 years younger man that would come at the drop of a dime when I called and needed him on the highway because my car broke down; and not once did he say I shouldn't have been on the highway in the first place going to do something I probably shouldn't have been doing.  Nope, not my dad, he would say lets take a look and see what's going on under here.  And low and behold, he would get it fixed and follow me back safely to Joplin, all with a warm loving smile on his face.

I can not count the times when my dad has been there when I really needed him in my adult life.  I know as a child, we don't remember what all they done for us as much, and my dad wasn't always the best role model when I was younger, but he sure tried to make up for it with unconditional, unstoppable, always there for me and the kids, kind of love!  I love him and appreciate him so much for that.

When I was hanging out with my friends and had a young son to care for, he would babysit and only say something like, don't be late for church in the morning.  Never giving lectures, but gently letting me know that he didn't quite approve of the going out too much.  When he got saved that was the best thing that could have happened to him at that time in his life.  He has had diabetes since he was about 29 or so, he drank everyday after work, and he smoked like a chimney, but when he got saved, the smoking ceased as did the drinking.  He has always had a wonderful attitude, but now it was really something to love.  All he could do was praise the Lord that He saw fit to save him from himself!  From then on, all he has been doing is trying to praise and serve Jesus!

Back to today, as I was looking at his body; his body that has lost two lower legs, his body that has had a triple bypass, his body that has a dialysis fistula port from getting his blood cleaned three times a week, his body that has numerous scars from passing out and falling, his body that has lungs that fill with over a liter of fluid and have to be drained, his body that sometimes has uncontrollable twitches from some medication reaction, his body that takes a small arsenal of meds and his body that has endless stomach pains....when I look at my dad and see all that is happening to him, and wonder how he can still go on....It seems all I ever see besides his smile and great attitude, is the Love that he ALWAYS has for ME!


Unless noted, All Daily Portions test Blog post are copyright 2010 Daily Portions.