Mi Padre

I just want to shout out thanks for my father.

He has always had a good heart.  People naturally trust him, which is pretty neat in the work world.  When he worked in irrigation, he earned the trust and friendship of the hispanic workers there on green cards, who often didn't get along super well with the managers and supervisors in the irrigation company.  Two of the fellows even became like family, helping at my mom's flower store and visiting the house on occasion.  I'll never forget when us and a bunch of dad's crew drove a tiny red go-kart (with quite a punch) up and down the street of my rustic neighborhood!  One man, "Pica", crashed into a street sign... He was fine, but the laughter rang loud that day in my quiet neighborhood.

My dad saw them as men, not as workers; the latter seems prevalent often times I'm sorry to say. But I'm thankful for my dad's example in that; I'll never forget him laughing and crying with this group of Hispanic men.  Now today at his current job, he is the guy people go to when they need to talk about a problem or want advice. He won't gossip.

My dad works hard.  He often regrets not finishing out college; I'm sorry he regrets it, but I am proud of every job he's done and for seeing just how much he cares for my family.  He worked his way up in the irrigation industry from a kid on the golf fields running sprinklers and pulling weeds, to part-owner of an irrigation company.  After that he invested full-steam effort into my mother's flower shop.  At a rough point, my father worked three jobs to try and keep our family afloat.

Three jobs.  He only managed to get four hours of sleep a day generally.  That is nowhere near enough.  He did it without complaining, but with worried determination for the family.

I'm glad now that he has one job and our family is doing well :).  But I'm thankful for my dad's love manifested in selfless, hard work for the family and for that lesson in determination that inspires me to be relentless, be a go-getter, and never give up.  I'm a shy person, but thinking of him always helps me to be bold.

Particularly today, I'm thankful for His walk in Christ. 

My dad grew up in the Catholic church as an altar boy; he had foundations of faith.  He married my mother, also a Christian.  She is from the Protestant church.  My mother attended Catholic classes so she and he could be wed in the Catholic church.  They had a beautiful wedding! 

After day-to-day life set in again, my mother and father had trouble finding a church they both agreed on.  So they taught Bobby and I at home about God, and our family accidentally got into the habit of not attending church.

As the daily grind went on for years, it came to where God seemed distant for my dad.  He still prayed, but God wasn't at the forefront of his life.

After a very difficult stretch of time, Dad had lost everything he had worried for years about losing.  Now that it was gone, he had to take a seat in faith's chair, vulnerable to what all could now go wrong and sitting in God's palm.

God took care of my family, in huge ways that I can't begin to list.  Dad rejoiced at God's care for our family and his own individual life, and committed to following God fully again.

Dad started going to church with me occasionally in high school.  We went to a Methodist church and a Catholic church, switching it up weekends.  Dad came to like Fishers United Methodist Church. Starting late in my freshman year of college, after the stormiest of times had cleared up to reveal beautiful spring and calm for my family, Dad became a regular church attendee. He is especially fond of the 9:45 service.

Dad also started listening to K-Love more and more, gradually.  Now he listens to it while he does deliveries at work.  He plays it at home at least once a day, because "it helps me focus on God," he told me.

He recently said that he guesses he's changed. He uses strong language less, which is just how my family generally speaks; worries much less; and is one of the most thankful and generous people I know.  Readily, if the conversation turns towards God, He has a smile and something to give thanks about.

That is why I began writing.  I realized how much of a life of gratitude my Dad lives, and how He loves to give thanks for what God does.

My dad teaches me so much and is definitely a role model for me, in character, life, and spiritually.

Thanks, Padre!

Feliz dia del Padre!

:)