“Gwen, let’s take some time to talk today.” Wearily I eye my dad as I sat out in the morning sun drinking hot cocoa.
The family was on our summer trip at the grandparents’ house as we normally did annually. But this year was a solemn one for me. Recently divorced at twenty-two, the big question looming over my head was, what do I do with my life now.
Grabbing a chair and placing it next to me, my dad sits down. From the dock we both watch the morning sun create mini diamonds reflecting light off the water.
Dad then asks what I have been contemplating for the past few weeks. “What’s next?”
A fish surfaces and then plops back into the dark water surrounding the dock. To be honest, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I’ve tried schooling and failed. Experiencing marriage only to be rejected wasn’t something I cared to do again. So, what was next?
Keeping the conversation going my dad continues. “I think you need to start thinking about your future and how you can support yourself.”
I had no objections there. But what would that be? I contemplated this question as I watched the ripple from the fish’s reentry into the water get bigger.
“What interests you. What are you good at?” My dad crosses his legs and takes another sip of his coffee as he quietly waits for me to interact with him.
What I’m good at is making messes, I yelled inside my head. “I don’t know, dad.” Feeling a bit worthless with the lame answer I gave, I just wanted to disappear.
“I think if you really thought about it, you would realize that interacting with people is a trait you possess. You always had since you were a kid.”
The wheels in my head started to turn as I thought about this revelation.
My dad and I talked that morning about what career would suit me with my traits and with the least amount of education since schooling wasn’t a strong suit of mine.
This is how I got into a nursing career. It was a seed of confidence instigated by my father. Telling me that I was actually good at something and challenging me to live a life doing something productive that would give me great satisfaction.
“Great fathers don’t find fault. Great fathers find solutions.” – Reed Markham
I went on to college, finished my nursing degree, and started my career in the health care field. To this day I’m still seeing patients. Interacting with people is definitely something I can do with ease. I guess God did bless me with something.
Wow, thinking back on that day, what if my dad hadn’t taken the time to say something and set me in motion down a road to success. Where would I be today. Who knows because I have plowed some crazy ridiculous paths in my life that I don’t think anyone would want to repeat.
But my father stayed present in my life. Despite all the stupid stuff I did, he was always there for me, encouraging me, reminding me that I am of value and loved. At times he’d help brush the dirt off after I’d fallen and then tell me, “Keep going. You can do this!”
“It’s only when you grow up and step back from him – or leave him for your own home – it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.” – Margaret Truman
To this day, my father and I will sit and have discussions about different topics. He may be long winded at times but that’s okay. How often does a girl get to be around an awesome dad like mine.
It’s Father’s Day and I wanted dedicate this blog to all the fathers who took this role seriously and made a difference in someone’s life. THANK YOU! Whether biological, step, or a figure like, to have a father present in one’s life seems to be a rarity these days.
If you have a father figure who is active in your life, thank him. Being a father today is not an easy task. These amazing guys need all the encouragement and love we can give them. Who else is going to teach us how to fight for what is right and how to be courageous as we forge forward in life.
“He adopted a role called being a father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a protector.” – Tom Wolfe
Dad, I have squirreled your words of wisdom away in my memory banks for future use. The seeds of confidence you have instigated pushed me to my outer limits causing me to learn how to navigate the many wild circumstances I have traversed throughout my life. I’m sure at times you questioned God if I was really your kid but still you loved me for who I am.
Thank you dad, I am deeply grateful for all you’ve done for me. I love you!
“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. – Billy Graham
Gwen
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