Christian Living

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A Father’s Love
© 2006

by

Stephen A. Peterson


“BIG COUNTRY!” Everyone knows who Big Country is. He’s a big man who stands 6’ 4” tall and weighs over 300 pounds of mainly muscle, tough as nails, with a heart of gold. Recently Big Country was chosen to receive a very prestigious award for his work with young people in the Oklahoma City area. When it was mentioned to him regarding the upcoming award, he told his sponsor that he would not be present to receive the honor.

“Why not?” he was asked by an incredulous, now angry sponsor who found it difficult to believe that he would bypass such an honorable and exciting occasion and award.

“Because Sylvia (his fourteen year old daughter) will be participating in a junior amateur tennis match that evening in Edmond,” he explained. “Sylvia is facing a very tough opponent and she’ll need the whole family’s presence to support her. The people at the awards banquet won’t miss me, but Sylvia would. My daughter is more important.”

Big Country’s response shocked the sponsor who was also his friend. However, after reflecting upon What Big Country said, he understood. He knew Big Country had always made a point to put his family ahead of any and all extracurricular activities. And with further reflection, the sponsor realized that a man who sets that kind of priority in his life is giving his children an everlasting gift that, in this instance, his daughter will remember for the rest of her life—that of lifelong presence and support. Big Country has blessed his daughter and, indeed all of his children, with a healthy confidence and a strong self esteem that will sustain them no matter what the future may bring. For they have experienced through the sacrifice of a personal award on the part of their father. Big Country’s action sends a message that their father’s love, care and support of them is there for them—a true expression of unconditional love.

And for the father who sees his daughters and sons daily grow in strength, assurance and admonition as a result of his presence and guidance, there is no greater award!

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