Brene Brown in her book ‘Daring Greatly,’ defined love, not as something you give or get, but as something you nurture and grow. She noted that it’s a connection that can only be cultivated between two people when it exists within each one of them–we can only love others as much as we love ourselves. To be among fathers, to celebrate them today and always, is to be in love.

I think about fathers a lot on days like today. My own for example. I wonder what he would think about me. Did I live up to his hope and dreams? Did I master the thing called education as he would want? Do I still talk to much as he would have chided? He was truly a giant in my life and days like today reminds me of his unconditional love for my many warm, joyful and even annoying ways. He is truly missed. Side note, that I am obsessed with books is because he gladly gifted me money to buy them. Our favorite thing to do growing up was to buy novels for me to read.

I also think of all the men in my life that are Fathers starting with my heart’s delight, my soul’s content, my peace. Zobam is truly God’s gift on earth, not just to our family but to every person with stroke. Some of the procedures he performs makes me stand in awe of God. Of course it impinges a lot on many family activities, but because of him and his skills, others can still have their dads.

I think about the little girl for example, who got her dad back because of him and gave him life saver candies to thank him. I think about another Dad, just this weekend who after 5hours and 30 minutes of surgery on Friday, is fine and seeing his family today thanks to his skills. What they may not know was that we were on the way to the water park. We were also 10 minutes away when we had to turn around and rush him to the hospital because of that Dad. He sacrificed his time with his family so another Dad could be here today. I think about that a lot always, but today it hits home. He is our Father, not because he loves us, but because God loves him more. And through him, he can bring healing, not just to his family, but to many other families that he comes across.

Which is why silver and gold will never do for him. No amount of gifts will do. We try our best to surround him with airplanes as they make him happy, like our trip often to the Blue Angels replica at Forest Park. We also offered and surrounded him with prayers. Psalm 20 for example, a perfect prayer of victory over his life. That on a day like today and always, he would rise and stand firm as he brings healing to people. He is God’s chosen king and all his heart’s desires will be answered always. We are forever blessed to call him ours and for today and always, we celebrate him as our Father. Happy Father’s Day my Zobam.