Father’s Day Tribute

There is a saying, give a person their flowers now while they are alive.

Today is Father’s Day. It is a day that I usually forget. Not because I want to but because my birth father and I do not have a relationship at all. I have not seen my birth father in almost 29 years. I was not given away or he died but, we are estranged and I do not know why.

But, I do have a father. Not your typical father, but a father none the less. I look nothing like this father. I have no blood of his. I have no past history with him. But, I do have a father.

Today, happens to be Father’s Day so this article is fitting in all kinds of ways.  I thought this year I would honor the father in my life with a tribute article of what he means to me and what he means to my life for all to see.

Sometimes God, gives us things in such a way that we never would have seen it coming had He not done it so profoundly and lovingly.

My birth father, is my father. Nothing will change that. But I don’t know him anymore. It has been almost 29 years since I have seen him and really spoken to him and had any type of relationship. I don’t dishonor him with this blog post but he is a man that I do not know. He gave me life and took care of my basic needs as a father should but other than that, nothing else. No real guidance. No real concern for my life. No real fathering. No help in adulthood and no comfort.  No protection. I’m not even sure I miss him because I do not know him anymore.  But, I do feel a sense of grief for a relationship that should be but is not.  

It’s been so long since we had any type of relationship I am not sure how I even feel about him, on this Father’s Day.

But, I do know how I feel about someone that God put into my life nearly 15 years ago.

There is a man that came along side me and loved me, taught me, cared about my life, fathered me and helped me in so many ways — I can’t remember them all. But, I wanted to recount a few of them here.  Why? Because I knew he was sent from God into my life and he has been doing what a father is supposed to do.

He has been a rock for me and shown me the love of a natural father that I never really had and the love of Father God, that I desperately needed. He is a man that just is there all the time like a father, without complaint. 

He has a calm stature that is released into the atmosphere whenever he appears. He has this way of making a situation seem not so “huge” but just a simple thing that is not impossible.

He is a man that has fixed my cars more times than I can count. And, that has been a lot. He has paid for more dinners than a person probably should. Even some lunches and a few breakfasts thrown in too.  He put me through ministry school and never asked for a dime back in return (I may have paid for two classes…..thank you!!!)

He has blessed my son with a computer and put him through private christian school for three years. Not to mention what he has done for my sons over the years in teaching them “man stuff”.

He has bought Christmas presents, birthday presents, and just because stuff when my stuff broke. He has fixed my sink, toilets, lawnmower and more. I think they know him at Lowes and Home Depot. He has shared knowledge on many subjects, wisdom about many things, shared many, many stories of his life good and bad. He has also bought and paid for two cars for me debt free!!!!

But, all these things and more (because I’m leaving things out I’m sure) are not what makes him such an amazing father figure and wonderful person.  No. Not the things he has done for me but the WHO he is. He is an amazing man of God with the heart of Christ in all he does. He truly loves the Lord and shows it. Kindness rules his heart and compassion for the lost, sick and hurting. Not to mention he has the best stories I have ever heard you would think he is 90 years old he has so many stories of people and events. 

He can turn any and everything into a story. You can’t be around him too long without hearing a story about his life or some weird event that happened to him or someone else. 

This man, who has come along side my life, has never made me feel less than what I am. I never felt broken when I was broken from divorce. He made me feel whole. He has always encouraged me, especially through the worst time and season in my life–divorce.  He was always there with a kind word and smile. Always giving advice on how to take the next steps to healing and gaining myself back. He has always showed the love of God and how to overcome the enemy in all situations. He always seemed to stay calm when I was losing it in some life situation. And, that seemed to be a lot in the beginning.

He doesn’t know this but so many, many times where I was so scared of what would happen when something would break or fall apart. I had no idea how to fix something or who to call. He would just step in. I have wondered “is this what it is like to have a father” that loves you and takes care of a daughter. Because, I don’t know.

The man, who is like a father to me is none other than Dr. Grady P. Morris.

Did I know that I would be granted with the gift of such a person in my life one day. No, I did not. Did I ever imagine that I would even get a 2nd father in my life. No, I didn’t.

But, I am eternally grateful. He didn’t ask for the position. He may not have even wanted it. I didn’t know I needed it. 

But, I think he was called to it.

Will I ever forget his love towards me and father-like ways, NEVER.

Do I wish that my birth dad was getting this praise today, yes. But, I cannot dismiss the man that is in my life when he doesn’t have to be. The man that has taken up a mantel that was not even his to begin with. A man that is basically doing what another man should be doing. Is there so much more I could say about Grady Morris, Yes!!!!!! But that is between me, him and God.

I thank you Grady for all you have been to my life. I honor you today with this blog and tell you that I love you and thank you for all you have ever done for me. I hope to repay it one day. Not because you and I keep track of it all — we couldn’t at this point there is just too much that you have done. But, I write and say all this because you just deserve honor and to be blessed for all those stories you have told me over the years that have changed me in big and small ways.

I wouldn’t be here today partly because of him. I wouldn’t know what the love of Father God is really like had I not seen it manifested in his life towards me. He truly helped me to have soul healing. He helped me to see Jesus with skin on. It is with great pleasure I honor you today on Father’s Day and pray you have many more. Give honor where honor is due and it is due.

Your daughter,