Dad Love

My best memories of my Father while I was growing up include things like him dancing with my mother at weddings, how he made breakfast on Sunday mornings after church and the way he hugged me when he got home from work, telling me –  “give me some shouggy” (sugar) – his way of asking for a kiss.

I would lean in and kiss him on the cheek and his scruffy sideburns would rub my soft, little girl skin and even though it felt kinda funny, I din’t care.  I was so happy for him to be home, for the family to be all together again… for him to just be THERE.

Today in church our priest talked about how much God the Father loves us, all of His children.  And it struck me SO hard that my father did the same for me, day after day, week after week, year after year.  And still does.  He loves me unconditionally.

The other thought I had while the priest was speaking was the fact that so many children in this world unfortunately do not know that love.  And how unfair and simply sad that is to me.  But then, so many do know it, like my own children.  There is no doubt in their mind that their father loves them. So much.

I am not sure what it is like to be a father because I am not one.  I assume the bond is somewhat different than that of the mother’s because the men did not carry and birth the babies.  However I am not sure that means is any less strong.

I am pretty close to my father.  He is not one to talk on the phone but when we are together we have some pretty good conversations and talks.  He has always been someone to celebrate my milestones and the big things in my life and someone I knew I could go to with any problem.

Back when I was in high school I got caught cheating on a Chemistry test (YES, I did, and still to this day it is one of the things I regret the most ever, yes both the cheating and getting caught!).  I was so scared to tell my father.  Not because I was afraid of the punishment or him yelling at me but because I knew he was going to be SO disappointed in me.

And he was, because he knew he raised me different.  I don’t even remember if there was a punishment.  I think he knew I had put myself through the ringer enough and he was pretty certain once it was all worked out that I would never pull another stunt like that.  And I didn’t.

When I think about my father and the father to my children, all I can picture is love.  I see hugs and kisses and teaching and showing and back-patting and hair mussing and prideful smiles at a job well done.

I see children running to the door when they hear that truck pull up, after a long day of separation.  I see joy and elation and just pure LOVE.

So here’s to ALL the Father’s out there who love their children like they should.  Congratulations, you are making a huge difference in those kids’ lives.  Maybe even more than you will ever know.

And to my Dad and my Tim and his Dad and Tim’s grandfather and my three brothers, thanks for all the love you give your children. Always.

P.S.

It’s Miss Elaine-ous Monday!  C’mon and link up – it’s so easy!

ANY “miss elaine-ous” post will do, something from your archives or something brand new! 🙂
Do you have a post that meant a lot to you but wasn’t read by as many folks as you’d hoped? Or one that has great pictures and you want more people to see them? Or do you just have one that you really want to share!?

I’ll also choose a random post from those who link up to feature on The Miss Elaine-ous Life Facebook page (please “Like” if you have not already) so even more folks will see a new post every week! Grab the button and link up!  And please visit some of the other linkers as well…

If you do not post the button, please still link back to my blog, even if you just put a little blurb at the end of you post such as “It’s Monday and I’m being “Miss Elaine-ous” over at The Miss Elaine-ous Life!” – Thanks!! Oh and extra bonus points to anyone who puts a tweet out there, that would be awesome too!
Thanks for linking up! Also linked up with Mommy & Me Monday! (for Daddies, this week!)