30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Days 18 & 19

Since I have two days worth of being thankful to make up for today, I
thought I would put focus on the two people that brought me into this
world - my parents.

First, my Dad. I've pretty much been in love with him since the moment
I met him. My mom used to tell me that I could care less if she was
the one picking me up from nursery or daycare, but, if it was my dad?
Well then I would drop everything to run to his arms. I was definitely
Daddy's little girl growing up.

I think the general understanding I had of my dad growing up (and
still do) was that he could do anything. Every job he worked seemed
amazing to me - I think my brothers and I have a special fondness for
the short time he was a limo driver and we would get to ride in the
limo with the tv on watching Full House (what kid wouldn't like tv in
the car in the early 90's?). The man fixed F-16 jets (now my son
thinks this is the coolest thing ever) and swam shark and poisonous
snake infested waters in Panama when he was in the Air National Guard.
And what girl in elementary school who spends time playing house and
home with her friends wouldn't love that her dad could take her on
regular tours through the modular homes he sold and imagine her own
home someday?

It was when we moved to Seattle so my dad could pursue full-time
ministry and Bible School that I saw how hard he could truly work and
how he was capable of anything) With God's help he worked part-time
while he had a family of four kids and a wife at home so he could
attend school full-time. Then he began working full-time at our church
in the glorified position of maintenance man and continued his
schooling. All the while he was building relationships with people in
the community, the elderly in our church who needed help with this or
that and families on the football teams he coached while my brothers
played.

Now I see him, still pursuing full-time ministry after 5 years of
pastoring a small church, only this time going back to that same
community where he established those relationships with people when we
first moved here, by being himself and helping where help was needed,
and now serving young people who desperately need role models and
people to show them Christ and the love of the Father.
My dad can do anything. But it isn't necessarily because he is this
all talented, succeed at everything personality, but rather because as
long as I've known him, he has submitted his hands to what the Lord
leads him to do, however small or trivial it may seem, or however
challenging and difficult it may be, and the Lord is blessing his
faithfulness and obedience.

I am blessed beyond measure to have him as my daddy and for him to be
the reflection of my heavenly Father.


Now, for my mom. For all my favoring of my dad I seemed to do in my
toddler years, she still has a special place in my heart. If there is
someone I always aim to please, it is her. Not because I fear her
opinion of me, but rather because I respect it so much and would be
perfectly happy to become just like her when I grow up.
She is an amazing mom. So whole-heartedly devoted to her kids. Whether
it was learning my piano lessons with me or enduring algebra with me
(with many tears shed) I knew I could go to her for help.
This woman gave me my love for books and reading. Some of my fondest
memories of growing up involve her with a cup of coffee and a pile of
library books on the couch with us kids. Even once I was well past the
age of her reading aloud to me, I still wanted her to, and she still
did, even into jr high-school. I'm not sure how she managed to teach
us at home, but she did, with perseverance, humility, and grace.

My mom is a prayer warrior. Even now I know if I ask my mom for prayer
for something I'm really only giving her specifics to prayers she is
already praying for me. She is gifted in wisdom and discernment. She
listens well. She lifts up and encourages, yet still honestly and
lovingly points out sin and calls me to repentance. I go through
seasons of needing a lot of that.

She is so faithful. Faithful to my dad, faithful to follow where he
leads and be his helpmeet, and faithful to help him hear from the
Lord. She is an excellent example of a devoted wife and what it means
to submit to one's husband. She probably encourages me the most in
this way, and seeing how I'm a stubborn firstborn married to a
stubborn firstborn, goodness knows I need it.

She constantly encourages me in my mothering. Where I am quick to bash
myself and cry failure, she reminds me just how good my kids have it
with me as their mom and points me back to Christ to be the rock I
lean on instead of my own intuition and earthly wisdom. These
conversations usually start in my tears and frustrations and usually
end with me saying, "I know you're right, Mom."

I am so thankful for the pillar of faith I have in my parents. I'm
thankful for the examples of hard work, commitment, faithfulness and
devotion that they exude. I am truly a blessed daughter. I suppose I
can finally forgive them for not giving me any sisters since three
brothers better prepares me for life a a mom to three sons.

I love you, Mom & Dad!