As much as Jack could drive me insane, the entire time he was living with us I always admired what a good father he was. He would call his children every day. One time, I asked Jack why he called his kids so often, and he told me that he hadn’t gone a single day without talking to his children in the 10-plus years he and his former wife had been divorced.
My dad speaks pretty infrequently to my sisters and myself. When he and I talk, I am usually the one who’s initiated the telephone call or who’s asked to come to the house. It’s been about two weeks since I last talked to him; sometimes I just get tired of being the one doing the calling. Two weeks really isn’t that bad; Sarah and I were talking this morning, and she told me she’s not talked to dad since she left for college after the Christmas holiday.
My phone rang this afternoon, and I was very surprised to see my father’s name register on my caller ID. ”We should go on a date,” he told me. Paul dates his daughters. I love that Paul dates his daughters. My dad used to date me… he sort of stopped when he got remarried. I have no idea what prompted this phone call. I nearly stopped breathing when my dad continued; ” I love you. I miss you.” Whoa.
In a way, it’s conversations like this which let me know that God is real. It’s entirely too coincidental that Sarah and I were just talking, this morning, about how daddy never really calls us. I’m not certain what God did to stir up my father’s heart and urge him to call me, but I am grateful. Sometimes, in all honesty, my sisters and I feel like dad really just doesn’t care.
Sometimes, it’s nice to be reminded that you’re wrong.
My dad and yours are probably cut out of the same mold…(not very verbal and have a hard time demonstrating their feelings) Someone told me a few years ago my dad had been bragging about me to them..dad had told this person how proud he was of me…this person then in turn told me…you could have fooled me…I’ve MAYBE heard him say something like that once or twice…maybe…so I too have wished for more of what your talking about from my dad as well. I try to tell my kids “I love you”..every chance I get..I also try to give them regular hugs..(including our 19 yr old son)…What I’m trying to say is..I do believe if your dad said “I love you, I miss you” today..that is just the tip of the iceburg…there is a lot of love (and pride) in his heart for you kids…he may just have a hard time expressing it…I’m glad some of it came out out today..
Both my sons are the products of a broken marriage. They have both been “C” listed in their father’s lives. You are blessed. What’s in the past is in the past. Each day is a new beginning. The wonderful thing is that now you know he (and He) thinks about you.
Daddy Haiku…
Dad can be a dolt…
But then, sometimes God breaks through…
And melts frozen hearts.