If You Are Looking for a Hero

“Those who say that we're in a time

when there are no heroes , 

they just don't know where to look.”

RONALD REAGAN, First Inaugural Address, Jan. 20, 1981

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All dads are not heroes...

All heroes are not dads...

Blessed are those who have both!

According to the dictionary, “dad” is the informal version of “father” and a “father” is a man who has begotten a child.

A hero is defined as a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

A hero is no braver than an ordinary man,

but he is braver five minutes longer.

Let me share a story...

Once upon a time there was a good man.

One day the Lord chose him

to be the daddy of a little girl.

God entrusted this good man - and now great daddy - to raise his daughter to recognize the attributes of the Lord, so she would know from the very start that unconditional love, mercy and grace were the foundations of life.

And so the daddy obeyed

and watched

and loved

this apple of his eye..

He became her protector,

her guardian,

and her defender.

Nothing escaped his watchful eye and the little girl grew up knowing love that would lay down its life for her.

The daddy was delighted...but sometimes saddened...to see his daughter venture out and spread her wings. Sometimes he allowed her to wander knowing struggles would send her back into his arms and that hard lessons learned would help her grow strong.

And then there were times she thought she knew more than him... and after he had lovingly corrected her, he endured moments of heartache as the mercy he so desperately wanted to freely give was ignored and then only half-heartedly accepted.

Those were the times the daddy didn’t know

- that even thru her tears -

his daughter

respected him for the discipline

admired him for his principles

and

loved him more than ever.

In her eyes - 

he was her hero.

She always felt safe...whether sleeping in his arms as a baby...living under his roof as a teenager...or taking another man’s name as her own and moving away.

Her daddy remained her hero...

And because of this daddy’s great love and sacrifice,

she readily accepted that

the Creator of everything

the God of angel armies

the Rock of Ages

El Shaddai

Jehovah

was truly a merciful and loving Heavenly Father...

and that any time day or night she could run to Him calling out

Abba, Abba

and as His cherished child be welcomed home in a loving embrace that would never let go.

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So as the daughter blessed to be given the treasure of a God-fearing and obedient daddy, let me say:

Thank you for your love and never ending support.

Thank you for all the advice...the many rescues...and even the sarcastic jokes that made me groan and roll my eyes.

Thank you for being my rock and keeping me steady on this adventure called life.

He reached down and drew me
from the deep, dark hole where I was stranded,

mired in the muck and clay.

With a gentle hand, He pulled me out

To set me down safely on a warm rock;

He held me until I was steady enough

to continue the journey again.

Psalm 40:2

 Happy Father’s Day

Daddy!

You are...

and always will be...

my hero!