30 Days of Thankfulness - #10 - My Dad

My dad's birthday is today! He would have been 51 years old...

There's not much I remember about my dad. He died when I was five from a very short battle with acute Leukemia. A lot of my memories come from stories and pictures and a few home videos. While the personal recollections are few, my dad left me so many things to be proud of.


My family... the most loving, affectionate, and funniest people you'll ever run into. They have loved me in a way that fills the void.


My appearance... at a recent family wedding, a lady approached me with tears in her eyes and said, "You must be Tab's daughter." That makes me so happy... that people can see me after all these years and pinpoint who I belong to. I am my daddy's daughter!


My mom... she wouldn't be who she is without him or without losing him. His life and death impacted her forever, and I can see the positive repercussions of strength and resiliency even after all these years.


His legacy... this is the biggie. There isn't a person without a good opinion or memory of my dad. He was a faithful husband and dad. He loved me more than I could ever fathom. He was a believer and loved Jesus with all his heart. He was a great friend. He loved his family. He was witty and generous and kind. And best of all? People came to know Jesus because of his life. That's the ultimate legacy. And one that I'm so proud of.


Thankful,
Lauren