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Get Your Weekly
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All Across America
View Happiness
—Nancy Gibbs, Cordele, Georgia
I remember the father who cheerfully stayed home on Monday mornings to keep the kids while his wife spent a few quality hours away.
That same man worked in the yard on Saturday mornings and played baseball in that same yard on Saturday afternoons. Cheering could be heard blocks away when the kids accidentally hit the ball with a fat plastic bat. Not a great deal was accomplished on those playful Saturday afternoons, but memories were formed that have never been forgotten.
Many afternoons, this father picked up the kids from school and took them to football practice or baseball games. He not only cheered for them as they played; oftentimes he coached their team. This father really enjoyed his children. This man taught his children many important lessons—some which could only be learned by losing.
This father stayed up many nights when his children were sick. He kept watch over them, even while they slept. His giant hands wiped little foreheads with wet washcloths when they had a fever. He made sure there were plenty of popsicles and ice cream in the freezer, especially when one of the kids had a sore throat.
This father loved his children dearly and did everything he could possibly do for them. He prayed for them daily. He made sure they understood the importance of a good education. He never dropped his kids off at church and returned home. He attended church with them.
One of the greatest things this father did for his sons was to dearly love their mother. In doing so, he taught them everything he knew about being the perfect husband. He knew that children have a way of learning not by what they are told, but by what they see. That action has helped his sons to become loving husbands themselves.
The most difficult thing this father did was to watch as his children left home. I saw tears on his cheeks, after he kissed his daughter goodbye and then pulled away from the apartment which was near her campus, yet too far from home to suit him. He wondered where the years had gone. He also wondered what life would be like without kids at home.
After a while, this father accepted the fact that his kids had grown up. Today, he rejoices in the fact that they are all well-rounded young adults. And he loves his new role as a grandfather, also known as “Pa.” The reward this father received for all his hard work as a young man is now paying off for him as a grandfather.
He takes care of his grandkids, while his children spend quality time resting and relaxing. He plays baseball with them in the front yard. Cheering can be heard all over the neighborhood when the girls accidentally hit the oversized ball with a fat plastic bat. He doesn’t accomplish much else when his granddaughters come, but wonderful memories are being formed with each visit.
He wipes tiny feverish brows when his granddaughters become ill at his house. He keeps popsicles and ice cream in the freezer. There’s always plenty of apple juice in the refrigerator. He takes the girls to church and tells them all about God. He prays for them on a daily basis and unceasingly offers thanks to God for allowing him to enjoy every moment he can with them.
This special father is also a special husband and the love of my life. How can I possibly say “thank you” to a man who means the world to me? I can tell him what a wonderful husband, father and grandfather he is and has always been.
I am thankful for the gift of my husband, Roy. For when a man loves his children and grandchildren, he also brings joy to the heart of their mother and grandmother.