A Tale of Two Dads

Picture a young man -- some would say still a kid -- marrying his bride and getting commissioned into the Air Force. And just when they thought they'd figured out marriage and Air Force life, along came a baby girl. And then 16 months later, another baby girl came along. Not that the guy was disappointed, he just thought he'd have 4 boys, not two girls. Being Dad to two girls can be tough, especially when you didn't really have a Dad around to show you what being a Father is all about.

But he prayed a lot. And talked to the Mom a lot. And apologized a lot.

And that's how he became a really amazing Dad.

My older sister was a lot easier to parent than I was. I liked to do the exact opposite of what I was told. I liked to push the boundaries. I liked to make up my own mind. I liked to do things my own way. My poor Dad. But you know what? He stuck with me. It was frustrating, no doubt, but he believed in me. Actually, he believed in God and believed that God could do something good in my life.

Now picture another guy. Two years out of college, marrying his best friend. He was happy in his career and enjoyed traveling and being spontaneous. And then after 5 years of just the two of them, a baby girl came along. Exactly what he wished for in his most private prayers. And she stole his heart. She screamed a lot those first few months, but all he could do was hold her and love her and realize that the amount of time she would spend screaming would pale in comparison to the amount of time she would spend growing up and learning new things and becoming her own little self. Being Dad to a strong-spirited girl can be tough, even when you had a great Dad to show you what being a Father is all about.

But he prayed a lot. And talked to the Mom a lot. And apologized a lot.

And that's how he became a really amazing Dad.

Today I celebrate the two men I love more than the most eloquent of words could ever describe -- my Dad and my Husband. Two men who are great Fathers, not because they always know what to do or never mess up, but because they LOVE. They love God and they love their girls with that real love, that never-give-up-on-you, see-your-potential, want-the-best-for-you, be-available-to-you-at-all-times, trust-God-with-you, ask-for-forgiveness kind of love.

And that is an amazing way to be loved.