My Father’s Day gift: No bitterness

Sunday is Father’s Day, and it has me thinking deeply.

Many of you know that I grew up without my father. I didn’t meet him until I was almost 18.

I saw him once in 1993 and once in 1994, and that was it. I haven’t seen him since.

He and I became Facebook friends for a while. We talked a bit back and forth. It was pleasant enough, but the conversation was always on the surface, and it died pretty quickly.

I went to check in on him one day and discovered that he had closed his Facebook account. I haven’t talked to him since.

If I seem a bit to the point about all this, I guess it’s because it’s how I really am about the whole situation. I’ve gone from incredible hurt during childhood to indifference as an adult.

It is what it is.

But remember my vow of positive thinking?

I honestly believe the reason I didn’t have a father is because, instead, God gave me a husband who would be the most devoted father to a child I’ve ever seen.

He hates this picture because he says he looks too fat. Well, he’s lost at least 30 pounds since then, so maybe he’ll forgive me for posting it.

It just captures how wonderful he is to our son.

From Day 1, he has been there changing our son’s diapers, feeding him, rocking him, teaching him, singing to him and loving him.

Daddy hung the moon, if you ask our son.

Daddy does playtime and bath time and bedtime.

He’s showing our son when to be tough and when to be gentle. He makes him laugh and lets him know it’s OK to cry.

He shows him that men can clean the house and cook dinner and kiss boo-boos.

In my wildest dreams, I couldn’t have imagined a better father and role model for my child.

And God knew that was what was in store for me all along. I had to get through the bad to get to the good.

No, I won’t be bitter on this Father’s Day.

I know God skipped giving me a dad so he could give my son the greatest dad.

I’ll take that any day.

Happy Father’s Day.