Father's Day 2009

It's Father's Day today. What does that mean, really? Is Father's Day a "Hallmark Holiday" created to balance out Mother's Day? Why in June? Is it to remind students who it is that will most likely be paying for their college next year? Is it at the beginning of summer to provide an excuse to cook meat over fire to celebrate being a man? I dunno.

I can tell you this much: I love being a father. I have two wonderful children (well, wonderful much of the time) and I get to watch them grow up cared for by a beautiful California girl. (Thanks, Babe.) I never thought I'd actually look forward to a day like this, but watching my children at their dance recital last night touched something in my soul. I want to take today and redevote myself to their care and up-bringing.

Even with God's help I know this is not an easy task. I have missed birthdays and school events, soccer games and days at the beach because I took an oath to "obey the orders of the President of the United States and all officers appointed over me, in accordance with regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice." Sometimes those orders could be written to read, "For the next six to eight months you will leave your family behind while you travel to some of the most inhospitable places in the world. While you are there you will do the same job that you do back in San Diego, but you will be less efficient due to the intermittent internet connections. To compensate for this, you will be afforded the opportunity to work 24/7 because the people you interact with will remain in the States and continue to take weekends and holidays off." However, I can say that during deployments I do have a tendency to pursue my relationship with God more and I also seem to 'find' more time to hit the gym and catch up on my reading. I guess it's just a matter of priorities.

I have learned over the years by watching other dads that it's not always about the quantity of time so much as it is the quality of time. At least, that's how some view their family obligation. Unfortunately, those who believe this seem to also allow the quality of time to suffer.

God, thank you for blessing me with the title of "Dad." Thank you for my father and the example of living a godly life that he has shown me. Grant me satisfaction in my career to be thankful for having a job that allows me time to spend with my family. Even if I never get promoted again, the Corps has been pretty good to me. Even if You never bless me again, You have done more for me as my heavenly Father than I could ever even attempt to do for myself. You sent your own Son to take my punishment and die in my place. Looking at Trey, I realize that is something I could never do. Thank you for all You have done and thank you in advance for all that You will do for me and my family. Give me the strength to protect and defend those You have entrusted to my care and watch over them when the demands of the service require me to leave them behind. Show me your way for my life and give me the courage to walk that path. Amen.