He’s becoming a good MAN!
Father’s Day can be very difficult for alot of people. I have friends who didn’t have the kind of Fathers that they wish they had. I had a wonderful Father, but he’s gone now. Thankfully, I got over my pity party a few weeks ago about that, as we approached Father’s Day. And now, I can just be grateful that I “had” a wonderful Father. Plus I have another reason to celebrate… I’m SO grateful that my boys have a wonderful Father. Greg is an awesome Dad in so many ways.
Greg knew how to raise boys! Greg is more of a disciplinarian than I am. Over the years, I’ve been the “softie”. If it weren’t for Greg, my boys would have probably grown up lazy and selfish, and who knows what else. But Greg wouldn’t allow that. When he was tough on them, most of the time, I just cringed and bit my tongue (of course, sometimes I didn’t do so well on that either). But I knew that sometimes Dads have to be tough to make their boys into men.
Greg is also a very loving Father. Oh, yeah, totally! He tells his boys that he loves them, and hugs them often. He has always been attentive to their emotional and developmental needs, and proactive about looking for ways to build up their character, spend time with them, and take interest in what they’re interested in. To know Greg, you would think he’s a tough guy. And he is. But his heart is for his boys. Throughout their lives, they have always known for sure that their Dad loves them. I’m so grateful for that!
I’ve been able to watch my boys transform into the kind of man their Father is, a gentleman, and so much more. I watched Joe grow into being a good man and husband. What a beautiful transformation that was at about the same time as Christian. Now, Christian, at 17, is just blowing my mind too. First of all, yesterday (the day before Father’s Day), I reminded him to buy Dad a card. He already had, and had searched high and low and found a particular scuba knife that Greg wanted. All without saying a word, or any prompting from me. That’s the first time he’s self initiated a card and a gift! Wow! He’s finally becoming a man.
But that’s not all… In the past year, we’ve noticed Christian being more and more outwardly focused, and less self focused. Ahhh… a good sign! Nothing against him, just typical teenage behavior. He’s normal! For example, on our vacation in Hawaii, every day, he was constantly right there when we were loading or unloading the car with all our gear, ice chests, etc. and just “doing it”, like a man! “Here mom, let me get that. It’s too heavy for you.” Then, walking out on uneven lava rocks at the beach, just when I saw a gap that looked treacherous, there he was with his outstretched hand. He had waited for me, and kept an eye on me, ”Be careful. I gotcha.” Makes my heart melt. What a good husband he will be!
So I have much to be grateful for on this day. And I can look forward to watching them passing this on to their children. (sigh of relief, and picture me sitting back with my feet propped up with a tall glass of lemonade) Phew! Seems like our work is done.
