Hey, Dad. I love you back.

My dad is so very wonderful. When I was little he would come in to Kari's and my room to say goodnight and he would say "I love you" and (I don't remember this, but apparently it's true) I would refuse to say "I love you" back. I have no idea why this was the case, but I was one of those stubborn children who wouldn't acknowledge that I had done anything wrong no matter how long I sat in time-out for. I would also sit at the dinner table for hours after dinner was over because there was no way I was going to drink my milk. Sometimes I cried when people sang "Happy Birthday" to me on my birthday. And, I guess, this streak of craziness compelled me not to tell my dad that I loved him. 

The thing is, my dad has always been and still is my hero. I've admired him for as long as I've been alive. I love him because he was always there to play with us and was never to busy teach us games when we were little. He would read the Chronicles of Narnia every night and during dinner he'd read to us from the Bible. He's the leader of the family and I'm so blessed to call him my dad. 

As I grew up I realized that I was just like my Dad. We both doodle all over our paper when we take notes. We both leave Diet Coke cans around the house because we honestly forget to pick them up like Mom asks. We both love and value relationships and authenticity. And we have the exact same sense of humor. The jokes Dad used to tell that used to be the cause of rolling eyes and exclamations of "Dad, pleaaase stop!" are now absolutely hilarious. And when I suddenly wanted to go to Africa, Dad found me the cheapest plane tickets. He found a good deal on an iPhone, so that I could still communicate with people back home. He helped me with everything and sent me off to Africa, where, upon the third day of being there, I called him in tears and he gave me the exact encouragement I needed. When I decided to come home early, he was the one to change the plane tickets. Am I dependent on my dad? Well...yes. I know how to be independent and how to live on my own, of course, but for as long as I live I don't think I'll ever stop needing him in my life. So, Dad, for all those times I never said "I love you" back, I LOVE YOU, TOO. 

This blog post was inspired by the burst of pure love I've been feeling for Jesus these days. All those times Jesus tried to get close to me, I refused to tell him that I loved him back. And now after 4 months of it just being us, I can honestly say that I love the Lord and I KNOW that he's there and will always be there when there's nobody else to turn to. 

So here's to my earthly father and my heavenly Father, who are both there for me and love me even when I pretend I can do it all on my own. 

xoxo 

Love, 

Christie