My twin brother and I were born nearly 3 years after our older brother, Kyle. My dad was pretty young when he had us. He is everything we want in a dad. He laughed a lot. Made the best breakfasts. Introduced us to Christmas music on vinyl, A cappella music, and reading. He showed us sports, old black-and-white movies like The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and peanut butter (we even tried to make it at home once). He makes the best chili dogs with onions and mustard, instilled in us his love of Texas A&M, and shows us how to love our spouses.
My dad also gives many things. I inherited my dad’s green eyes. I also got his sense of humor. He makes me laugh harder than just about anyone. But, more than all the material things my dad gives me, what he models is his greatest gift. I’ll share three things:
(1) A Model of Apologizing and Forgiveness.
Growing up, I got into the normal trouble kids get into. From disrespecting my parents to fighting with my brother to having to apologize to my lifeguard for lying to him. However, anytime there was tension between my dad and me, we would always end up reconciling.
Looking back, I see that it was my dad who modeled how to apologize to my family and me. It did not matter who was at odds; we found resolution because of my dad. He is also a man who forgives. My dad could be frustrated with others, with the best of them, but it would not keep him from ultimately forgiving them.
My dad is a model for seeking forgiveness.
(2) A Model of Believing the Best.
I distinctly remember my dad calling me TN, which meant “the Natural,” taken from the movie The Natural with Robert Redford. Likely, there was something going on with football, and my dad spoke words of life into my heart and mind, believing the best in me. He does this with so many people. He has a knack for seeing what could become of someone, and he speaks words of life to encourage or redirect them.
My dad is a model for seeing the best in others.
(3) A Model of Giving.
My dad has a huge heart of benevolence. I’ll never forget that after the end-of-year celebration and awards ceremony for my little league 3rd-grade football team, my dad gave one of my teammates’ dads his very nice coat. All my teammates’ dad said to my dad was, “… that’s a nice coat.” That’s all it took. The next thing the man knew, he was wearing my dad’s coat.
He still gives away clothes, jewels, and so much more to kids at church, friends, and family. He holds his material stuff with an open hand.
My dad is a model for giving.
Indeed, my dad is not just a model, but he is also many other things.
My Dad is…
- A Christian. He accepted Christ a year before I was born and reared his family in the church.
- A welcomer. He never meets a stranger. Truly. He makes anyone welcome. If there were a greeter award at his church, he would have it.
- Funny. My dad is the best at making any situation awkwardly funny. Whether it is impersonations or pointing out the blatantly obvious, my dad is hilarious.
- Smart. He remembers facts and figures better than just about anyone I know.
- Creative. He is creative. He could have been a landscape architect or designer.
- Thoughtful. Beyond giving us the normal gifts we like, He gives the most thoughtful and particular gifts. He thinks them through, and you usually have to take time to appreciate them, but you eventually do.
- Kind. He is gracious and gentle. I do not ever remember him yelling at my mom. Ever. He treated her gently. He also treated me gently. He always wants my best and always supports me.
- A man of the Book. My dad knows his Bible. He studied it growing up, taught it, and still reads and applies it to his life today.
- A good singer. I remember several occasions when my dad sang a solo at church. The most distinct was Midnight Cry.
- A reader. He reads and reads and reads. He is always reading.
- A memorializer of meaningful events. Whether it was picking up a rock from the path where I proposed to my wife, putting it in a case, and giving it to us as a gift, or giving us a mug from a place we all went on vacation in Durango, my dad memorializes special moments.
- A man of prayer. My dad prays. He always insists that we pray before we leave their house to come home.
My dad. A godly man. A man of God.
I love you, dad.
— May 1, 2026