Father's Day - A Week Early

Yesterday, Susan, Kari and I went out to eat in Heredia to celebrate Father's Day.

Don't worry. You didn't miss it. I know the official day is next Sunday. Kari and Susan simply thought ahead and, because we are going to be busy with a work team next Sunday, they decided to do something special for me this weekend. Talk about a great family!

It did get me to thinking about what kind of father I have been. When those types of thoughts come in the middle of the night, it is usually a humbling experience. As I look back, there are several things that I probably would have done differently and want to apologize for publicly.

After all, confession is supposedly good for the soul.

Krista, I apologize for making you eat the coleslaw. I also apologize for wearing my red Converse All-Stars when I picked you and your friends up from that school activity. Yes, it was my job to embarrass you as a teenager, but I now admit there are limits.

Norma, I hereby apologize for taking you into that "special" coffee bar in Miami Beach. I promise you - I had no idea. I also apologize for letting you eat so many canned peaches at Shoney's. You seemed to be enjoying yourself and I didn't want to disappoint you.

Kari, I apologize to you for making you participate in so many adventures where you didn't feel completely safe. Truth be told, probably none of us were safe. Today, most of those adventures make good stories, but they must have been pretty frightening for a little girl.

To all three of you I apologize for the many times when ministry took priority over the precious gift I was given in being your father.

To be clear, there are some things for which I still refuse to apologize.

I do not repent of our mountain camping trips. There is nothing like camping in freezing air at 16,000 feet above sea level to make a, well, woman out of you.

I do not apologize for hours and hours of discussion around our table (or beds or hallways). Yes, you probably were forced to learn way too much about history and politics, but it doesn't seem to have harmed any of you.

I do not apologize for the tootle horns, impromptu "Hootenanny's", harmonica and sax duets or any of the other native musical experiences in our home. Just to be clear, I also do not apologize for us singing through the hymnal or learning old choruses.

In spite of my mistakes, errors and downright failures, you have all turned out to be women of God with a passion for following after him in your own ways. I couldn't ask for anything else. Thank you for allowing me to have the joy of still being your "Papi." Next to being the husband of your mother it is the greatest honor I have ever been given.