I love you Dad - I love you Father!

Hi there, hope your day is going great. We got to spend today, celebrating my dad’s 68^th birthday. My mom is recovering from MAJOR surgery, but she’s hanging in there like a trooper - up and moving and bossy as ever! LOL that’s what we love about here. My dad, who normally would get mad if you made fun of him, took today in stride and even laughed at himself several times today, without a hint of anger or insult. He didn’t even flinch when my 10 year old exclaimed, “Grandpa, look…your candles say 68. We can save those and use them again when you turn 86”. We all started laughing so loud…yes, even him. I love that.

I think that in this past month that he has been taking care of my mom, God has been softening his heart towards things. He appears to be molding, and changing my father and his spirit. See, prior to my mom’s surgery, my dad had started to become bitter, closed off, too proud to laugh at himself or to be super silly with his grandsons. He had a wall up. I thought I would never see that wall come down (or even a little crack to begin). But just as I’ve always known, God is a God of the impossible, the improbable, the miraculous and the unbelievable.

Over the course of two months my father has grown closer to Christ, his family and has found, I believe, an inner peace that he’s not found before. Really all he wants to be is loved…but it’s hard to be loved when you don’t quite love yourself. This isn’t my mom’s first surgery; in fact she had a nearly identical surgery almost exactly 1 year prior. Yes, he was helpful and took good care of my mom then too, but he wasn’t as thoughtful, caring and understanding as he was this time around. He was bitter, almost resentful and sometimes disrespectful. This time, he’s become more patient and loving, and although sometimes he has moments of frustration, I think that is due to something caregivers ALL suffer from - exhaustion. He has now begun to center Christ into his life and the results are quite obvious and beautiful. I have to say, he’s not the only one. My mom has also begun to focus more on God and really delve into his Word. She’s always loved God, prayed, and Christ has always been a driving force in her life - but it always seems that she kept him boxed in and within arms reach. He was there, but only as a last ditch effort when she really needed him. She’s made some major spiritual changes, and I see her relying on him daily - and praising his name (I’m assuming daily). These new resolutions and a strengthened relationship with God, have not only changed her, but also has begun to change my father as well and has strengthened and renewed their marriage. Praise God! God is the God of new beginnings, of forgiveness and of restoration; I’m never surprised by the wonderful way God moves in people’s lives - but I’m always grateful and joyful in them.

How is God inspiring you to grow closer to him? Do you feel that tug? That urgency? Have you been feeling like there’s something missing inside of you? Like a piece is missing and you’re always trying to fill that spot with SOMETHING? Does nothing quiet ever seem to fit? I suggest maybe nothing quiet has fit yet, because you haven’t tried the matching puzzle piece. Maybe that spot that feels empty is a “God shaped” hole and only God can fill it and make complete. Just a thought.

My husband use to always say, “I just feel like something is missing. I need a nitch. I need a hook. I need….something”. When he became a believer and a follower of Christ, that need was filled. And he then said to me one day, “Remember when I used to say I needed a hook, or a nitch, and that something was missing….it was God. I had forgotten I felt that way, but I no longer do. It was God that I was missing all along. I’m complete!” What a wonderful, beautiful way to fill up your heart; with the most love and joy that is overwhelming and oh so powerful: the love of God.

Have a wonderful weekend friends….hugs & love!