The photo on the left was taken yesterday morning of me and my dad. His name is Walt and I describe him as my biggest fan. As I sit on my front porch on this Father's Day morning, I am thinking of some of the really great ways Dad has been a father to me.
He taught me to defend myself when I was six years old and a local bully was picking on me. He taught me the value of serving God and others when he would take me with him to set up chairs for Sunday School on Saturday mornings. He taught me a great work ethic as I watched him work hard and advance in middle management with Sieberling Tire and Rubber Company. He taught me the necessity of defending the family, when armed robbers broke into our home one Saturday afternoon in 1971. He taught me the value of overcoming obstacles when, after 26 years, the tire plant closed down and Dad began a second career as a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch.
Dad came to everything I ever did. He never missed. He came to every Boy Scout event, hiking and camping his weekends away with me. He attended every concert, every play. He watched every football game - including every game in which I sat on the bench my first three years of ball. And to my knowledge, he's never missed a "Grandpa" opportunity, coming every time we've invited him to one of our own four children's functions.
Dad continues to be my best friend and great adviser. I love talking with him. Sometimes I have no destination in mind with my words, but I need to get something out... and he will listen. I feel like he's always on my side, always seeing through my perspective, always and in every way cheering me on. On this Father's Day I want to say, "Thanks Dad!" I know I have been most blessed with a caring, loving, supportive and faithful dad.
