The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him. (Prov 20:7 NKJV)

When I was a teenager, my dad and I didn’t always get along. Our disagreements were the  typical father/teenage daughter variety. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned something—we’re more alike than we are different. Not only do we look alike, but we think alike and sometimes even act alike.

My dad is a creator, and though we create using different media, I get much of my creative drive from him. As a welder, my dad can build or repair all sorts of things. He built an impossibly large swing set for me and my brother one summer. He included a teeter totter, swings, a tire swing, a couple’s swing, and a slide as tall as the roof on the house. Our backyard was the place to be that summer and for several years thereafter.

He designed a metal bed frame for me and decorated it with hearts on the headboard because he knew how much I loved hearts. I wore a heart charm on my necklace, collected knickknacks with hearts, and even signed my name with a heart over it for a time.

I went through a phase where I wanted to learn to play the piano. One of my best friends was an accomplished pianist by the time we were teenagers, and I wanted to be like her. I begged my dad for a piano, so he gave me a choice: Did I really want to learn piano and take time away from my studies and sports, or would I rather have a handcrafted desk and bookcase? I took the desk, and it was the best choice. I spent countless hours studying, writing letters to my grandma, and arranging and rearranging my books and knickknacks. Somehow, my dad knew just what I needed and what would serve me best in the long run.

My dad is in all of my best childhood memories, from cheering me on at ball games to spending countless hours together on road trips. As an adult, he’s been there for me more times than I can count. He’ll drive several hours to trim the tree branches I can’t reach or to help my brother fix his truck. No matter what needs to be done, my dad is always quick to lend a hand.

He set a godly example for us, showing my brother and me the best way to help to those around us. Each day, I’m thankful for my dad and all the ways that he has been there for me.

Dear Jesus, thank you for my dad, who watches out for our family and shows his love through his actions toward us. Amen.