when Father’s Day leaves you feeling blessed

Many mornings, my children wake up before I do, and their little feet pad down the stairs into my room as they quietly tiptoe to my side.

Mr. Fantastic often is already up and gone, at early morning meetings or just in the living room reading and praying. So the children crawl up into the vast open bed and quietly wait for me to wake up enough to start our day.

I lie there, with their soft arms over my shoulder, the scent of their shampooed hair calling me out of dreams.

The pillow beside me doesn’t seem so empty, though. As my eyes slowly open, my heart can nearly see the love cradled there in the faint imprint left behind by his restful body.

My children and I are loved by such a wonderful man. Is there a more wonderful or holy sight in the world than a family that knows it is loved? I know I can’t imagine one.

This lovely dawning of a new day, all of us safe in a home together, with food in our pantry, and a beautiful life trailing out ahead of us, it is all evidence that a great man leads us well.

He coaches baseball teams and buys flowers for our little ballerina, he reads his favorite books to us at the end of long days, he laughs over family dinners, and patiently swallows his anger when a child disobeys.

He is my best friend, and together we are diligently building a life with the high aim of loving God and others.

When I say “Happy Father’s Day” this weekend, my words will be full of admiration and love. And when I lie there in the stillness of the morning, surrounded by our children, I will pray that he feels as blessed on Father’s Day as I do.