Happy Father’s Day, Daddy

When I was growing up, my daddy was my hero.I wanted to be like him because, in my eyes, he could do anything.
I had a lot to say in my younger years, and I’m sure I asked a lot of questions.
Daddy was a good one to ask, because it seemed like he always had the answer.
He taught me how to throw, and then he taught me how to catch.
He let me drive the truck to the chicken houses when I was young, and then he let me walk through them with him while he worked.
Daddy worked hard, and he still does.
He made sure I knew how to work hard, too.
Several of the summers in my teenage years I had to get up early and work in the chicken houses before I could go about my day.
I remember wanting to sleep in, and sometimes I did.
I remember dreading working when I arrived, but I liked the feeling of accomplishment I had once I finished the job. I never told Daddy, but I’m pretty sure he knew.
Though I lost sleep during those summers, I learned the value of hard work, and I still know it today.
I don’t know how he did it after working factory shifts and tending to chickens, but somehow Daddy always found time to spend with me, my sister and my mama.
He took us on vacations and played games with us and took us fishing.
Some of my favorite memories were made on the lakes.
Sometimes we’d wake up before the sun to be on the water before the light hit, because once the sun rises above the cypress trees and its rays hit the water of Lake Ocheese you might as well go home.
Most of the time Daddy didn’t get to fish as much because he spent a good deal of time untangling my line, but we had some fun times and caught some big bream.
Fishing wasn’t the only thing Daddy taught me though.
He taught me about Jesus, and how faith in Him is the most important thing in life. He read the Bible with us and to us. He made sure we went to church, and he made sure we knew why.
He made sure we knew what respect was, and he made sure we were respectful.
He taught me what it means to help people.
He means what he says, but he’s not afraid to joke.
He loves my mama, and he’s not afraid to show it.
He taught my sister what to look for in a man, and now she’s happily married.
He taught me how to treat women, and if I have a wife I hope I can be as good a husband as he’s shown me how to be.
If I am blessed enough to have children, I hope I can be half the daddy to them as he is to me.
Daddy taught me what it means to be a good man, and I hope, one day, I can be half the man he is.
I’ve grown up now and a lot of things have changed in my life, but one thing never will.
My daddy will always be my hero.