Last year on Father's Day, I surprised my parents with something I had written for them. That Sunday morning (at the church my father pastors) I read it in front of the congregation. As the subject of today's Mother's Day blog post, it seems entirely fitting and proper to share what I had written - appropriately titled "Mom and Dad":
On this beautiful Father’s Day morning, I would like to share something that I’ve written for my dad. Permit me to be a tad saccharine for just a minute and know that this is all truth. And because it is impossible to thank my father without also thanking my mother – ‘cause they are the best team I’ve ever seen – Mom, on this beautiful Father’s day morning: this is for you, too.
The word gratitude does not suffice. You continue to be my example for everything I do, and you're the coolest people I know. And, believe me, I know some really cool people! All through my childhood years, filled with childlike hubris, I felt like you were the only ones who truly understood how to do things in the proper way. You were (and are) the very definition of what parents should be. You have been a continual reflection of God’s love. And I've ALWAYS known that.
You didn’t need to tell me to live right. I watched you live your lives, and I knew that living well was the only option. Even as a child, I knew that my parents were classy. My parents were sarcastic and funny. My parents rolled their eyes at the world's obsession with conformity and societal acceptance, while still teaching me to love and accept others. They taught me to befriend kids who no one else would befriend. I learned to do this because I watched them embrace adults who no one else would embrace.
They let me know that it was preferable to march to the beat of my own drum. And more importantly, to march in the Army of the Lord. But they didn't need to tell me to do this. I learned to do this because I watched them in their own march. It was never an act. EVER. Even if for my own peace they had secretly hoped that I could blend in just a little, they let me know in oh-so-many ways that it was vastly preferable for me to be the quirky little girl that God intended for me to be. And that has placed me in very good stead. They taught me the meaning of hard work. And, indeed, I had my first job by the age of thirteen. I could see very early on that others who complained about work, were merely posers. Because you two are the genuine article. The real deal.
You are the ones who always knew what the truly funny jokes were in the National Lampoon’s movies. It seemed that everyone else could only understand the mindless slapstick and sight gags. But you two understood the subtleties of comedic genius. While some other parents seemed to be enforcing this bizarre, status-obsessed ideal - which inevitably and ironically caused their kids to fall into all sorts of bad things while trying to obtain this so-called status - my mom and dad let me know that it was WAY more sophisticated to hunker down with them and watch George Carlin, Mel Brooks and Garry Shandling. And that really did feel exclusive.
My parents seemed to know that it was best to introduce me to the finer things early on. I knew by the age of five that antipasto was infinitely superior to Lunchables®️. You taught me to be well-spoken because you never spoke to me like I was a child. You let me know that I could do all things through Christ, and indeed I had a full-fledged Gospel Music Ministry by the age of sixteen. You taught me to study to show myself approved, and so I earned my degree. You taught me to follow my dreams, and now I’m living them.
I'm not naive to the fact that I've made good choices because I have good parents. All of the success I've had is because of you two. The Holy Spirit has shown me that my relationship with you, mirrors my relationship with my Heavenly Father. And so, everything that I do, is to honor you. You have let me know that it is okay to be different - even a little peculiar. After all, Jesus is different, too. And I am forever grateful to you both.