A Tribute to my Dad and an Open Letter to his Family

 

I am all about being vulnerable and open about my life and my feelings. I am a firm believer that with situations, hurts, and trials you go through, sharing even just a little bit of it can help someone. This has been a subject that I never thought I would be sharing because of how personal and sensitive it is not only to me but also my family. With the blessing of my parents, I'm sharing this in hopes that someone might relate. That they might be able to see that through difficult and painful family issues, you can show Christ's love and you can experience His joy in the midst of that deep pain. I admire my dad for a lot of reasons and how he's handled this journey with his family has been a huge reason I do. 

I don't know if this will reach my Dads side of the family but if it does, dear family, I hope you will take away three things from this. 1) you are loved 2) you are forgiven. and 3) my dad is an incredible person and I'm so sorry you have chosen to miss out on having him apart of your life. I couldn't imagine life without a personality and a character and a love for Christ that we all find in my father. I hope I am able to adequately explain my thoughts and feelings in a loving way. This letter is not written out of spite, but was prompted by a Facebook memory that triggered some feelings. I want you to know that we love you. We love our Dad who is one of the greatest people you could ever meet and we are all blessed enough to call him family, including you. 

My dad is a best friend of mine. My dad is an incredible man of God with a strength so humble, so gentle, and so kind. My family, I pray that you see that in spite of all that he's been put through, his joy remains through the depth of his pain. I pray that you see it has not changed who he is, it has not tainted his testimony, it has not made him a bitter individual who walks around with a chip on his shoulder, but instead it has made his testimony stronger and evident of what Jesus does in the hearts of His children. I pray that you see all of this in order to see something so much greater. I pray that through him you see the difference Christ makes. 

My father met Christ and his life was changed. He could have acted in retaliation from all the things that were done to him, but he didn't. He could have created stories and lies of you, but he didn't. The Lord gave him the strength to get through it all. The Lord gave my mom strength to get through it all. 

I'm very very protective of my dad because he is the MOST wonderful earthly father I could have ever been given. His character is and always has been a character of strength and gentleness with a large dash of fun loving, life of the party, incredible goofiness, and an I-only-care-what-Christ-thinks-of-me attitude. He does not get caught up in the things of this world because he knows that it's not what this life is about. He cares about loving people to the depth and core of who he is. He has represented a father of grace, love, and forgiveness. He has balanced so much with grace and strength.

He is a person who will walk into a store and leave twenty minutes later with five new friends and two life stories. He has a personality that draws people in and makes them truly feel the love of Christ. My dad is not perfect, but he is pretty dang close. I am so thankful for the person he is. I am so thankful he has remained a strong witness and that the things that he's been through has not even come close to having a chance of dimming the light in my dad. 

I don't know why those things were said and those things were done to my dad, but I know that my dad has had a joy that is only through Christ. A joy that will never and could never be taken away. He has an eternal perspective and I know he hopes and prays that someday you will experience the same love, joy, and relationship with Jesus as we have. It is a life with meaning. A life with purpose. A life with direction and a life with love. I am sorry for the things that my dad has been put through. It hurts me to my core. But what I do know is that God works all things together for good for the sake of His kingdom and I am confident that the things my dad has gone through, the things my mom has gone through have strengthened them and have made their testimony that much more compelling. 

To my Granny. I miss you. I miss seeing the pride in your eyes when you'd look at my dad. I miss hearing your sassy, quirky jokes and I'm proud to say I believe I've inherited (a more clean version of) your humor and spunk. As my dad has said, you weren't a perfect mother to him. But you were a great mother. You were his mother. You were a huge part in the person that he is today so I have to say thank you. I know how proud you were of daddy and I must say I am too. I also want to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry you weren't given a proper ceremony and tribute to your life. My dad did though. My dad honored you in every way he could. 

So if you're reading this, my family, I want you to know through everything, through difference in opinion, through deep hurts of the past, you are loved. I want you to know that through everything that has been said and done to him, my dad loves you. I want you to know that we pray for you and we hope the best for you. I want you to know that my dad is a great great individual and I pray someday you will find the joy that is only found in Christ that has set my dad apart. 

And Dad, thank you. Thank you for being a great example of what love looks like. What it looks like to handle things with love when you are under trials and unthinkable hurt. You are so strong, so consistent, and I am so beyond thankful for the man that you are.

Love,

 Olivia