SEVEN FOR YOU ◽ TIPS
Dad Stories
Our Panel of Women
June is all about fathers, isn’t it? Yet, as heartwarming as it is to gather with family to celebrate Dad, there are so many whose dad is missing now, or he’s been absent from their life since childhood, or there’s hurt between child and Dad. Father’s Day can be a mixed bag of emotions, for all of us. We all have memories, painful and heartwarming. And that’s what our panel is sharing, so that you can relate, smile, cry…whatever you feel this month of June.
It was hard for me to think of something positive about my daddy from growing up. He was not around much, and it was not always the happiest when he was. I do have some fond memories of him though, like the weekends when he came home from the Army reserves and brought me stuffed animals. I also loved it when we went to see him at work since he worked on a tugboat.
My dad was the kind of man that believed women had their place and children had theirs.
And since I was both, I was told to go help my mom more than having any time with him.And I remember he did sometimes seem glad to see me, but he also seemed just as glad to go. We became estranged when I was a teenager.
Later, having his grandchildren did make an impact on him like I had never seen before. When our first child was about six weeks old, he traveled to our house to meet her. We had seen each other a couple times before, like my graduation and marriage, but this time was different. This time he appeared solemn or broken. He became emotional, crying, and apologized for everything he had put me through. I broke down too. After that day, he became a devoted grandfather, and I saw love in him I had never seen before. Watching him with my kids showed me another side of my daddy, a softer, less stressed, side.
Over the years we shared our lives with him and when my kids were teenagers, my daddy shared with me how he had come to know about Jesus through watching us and accepted Him as his savior. The most important wisdom I received from my daddy was seeing how God does truly work through our lives and our actions that others notice. – Carole
My dad passed away in December 2024, and I watched him deteriorate in the hospital late that year. The last time I had seen him in person before that was back home in Hawaii in 2012. After that, he retired, moved to Thailand, remarried, and embraced a new season of life. One of the things he often reminded me of was that life is too short for negativity and drama, so be happy. That phrase ("be happy") carried a lot of weight. I even tattooed it after his passing. He lived it out with a kind of lightness, an energy, a zest for adventure, and an ability to enjoy the day in front of him. That perspective stuck with me, and even now, I find myself coming back to it and putting it into practice.
At the same time, there were parts of our relationship that were difficult. Because of the distance, he was emotionally, and obviously physically, absent. He missed milestones and life events, and never had the chance to meet my son or some of his other grandchildren. There were moments when that absence felt like rejection, almost like he chose a different life, and I had to wrestle with that over the years. But in the middle of that, I've come to know God as a very different kind of Father, one who is present, who draws near, one who doesn't miss the moments. He invites me into relationship daily and meets me with consistency and care. Where there were gaps in my relationship with my earthly father, God has brought comfort and a steady reminder that I am seen, known, and deeply loved.
I still carry both the joy of what my dad gave me, and the ache of what was missing, along with the loss of him. But I’m learning more and more that God meets me in both places, and that has been a deep source of peace. – Christina
All my life, my dad has been a woodworker, building furniture, boats, and various household items. The smell of sawdust is soothing and comforting. He built a three-step staircase for my elderly Golden Retriever, Grace, so she could climb up on my bed and sleep at my feet as she had done her whole life.
Everything he builds has such attention to detail. Every corner is precisely measured, the nails are hidden, and the surfaces are sanded smooth. Unfortunately, this is the only picture I have of just my dad and me. I will have to take a new picture when I visit my folks this summer at their lake house in Michigan.
I try to apply my father’s attention to detail in my writing, whether I am building stories or articles. I try to include sights, smells, and emotions in my stories to bring the scenes to life. It’s the story that is more engaging for the reader.
My Heavenly Father is also detail-oriented. I was extremely blessed to watch God orchestrate all my needs, as well as those of my fellow writers, at a writers’ conference I attended last October. He provided transportation (the conference center was almost an hour away from the airport—not so Uber-friendly!), excellent roommate matches between people who didn’t know each other and who became friends, and so many other plans we couldn’t have made happen ourselves. God is SO good! - Angela
Growing up, my dad was in ministry. He was an overseer and encourager for several churches and ministers in the South Texas area. Our family traveled around to a different church every weekend. He would preach and we would sing. Even as a child I felt so blessed.
We also had family devotions most nights and I felt very covered by God’s hand. I gave my heart to Jesus at a young age and I have continued in faith my whole life. But, as an adult I realize more and more that I have to grow up in my relationship with God. I have to pray and read His Word and hear what He is saying to me.
Have you ever heard the statement “God has no grandchildren”? We are so blessed if we are raised knowing about God. But, He wants to know us personally. We have to cultivate our own relationship with Him. And, what a joy it is to know Him. – Gina
My dad, Spike Beach, married my Mom, Sandy Beach, in 1963 in Las Vegas, Nevada. My mom was a newly-widowed woman with five children, ages 3- 12 years. My “real dad” (that’s how we always described him), Daddy Al, actually introduced Spike to my Mom. Daddy Al was a taxi driver and Union President. Spike was head chef at the Dunes Hotel & Casino; my mom was a waitress. I don’t remember my Daddy Al, but stories I’ve been told was he was a great dad. He loved being around his kids. He would bring all of us shopping with him, take us to Hoover Dam for the day, etc.
When mom married Spike, he had a ranch on the outside of Las Vegas. He had horses and that’s where I learned to ride. (Note: Spike trained horses for actor Walter Brennan.) We moved to the country in Northern California in 1964, bringing the horses with us. My parents immediately joined the Baptist church in town and became active members. My dad was a deacon and substitute teacher for Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting. Dad taught me to ride.
When I was 12, I was given my own horse for my birthday. Pepper was a well-trained, 16-hands Morgan gelding. He was a powerful horse. One of my favorite memories of my dad is when we were riding one day, myself on Pepper, and Dad on Babe, a black mustang mare. Pepper took off on me and I couldn’t control him. Dad raced up alongside me, grabbed Pepper’s reigns and stopped him. I was scared but my dad protected (and saved) me!
Dad always wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots to church. During communion, he would light the candles by striking the match on the bottom of his boot (isn’t it funny what we remember?) One of my favorite sayings of his, which I say on a regular basis is, “You’re more handy than a pocket in a shirt.” I love it – and it makes people laugh!
Dad always read the Bible every morning. He sat in the recliner, with a cat on his lap, reading his King James Scofield Bible. When he passed away in 2005, I asked for his Bible. He created a trifold tract, Cowboys for Christ, with the plan of salvation, and passed it out when he worked at a logging camp in his later years. Dad always told me he was praying for me, and I truly believe that’s why God kept him alive for 95 years – because he never gave up on me. - Gloria
My Dad served our country for 26 years before he retired. He often had to work three jobs to put food on the table. He believed in honesty and integrity. His superiors often cut corners or behaved dishonorably. One of them promised him a promotion if Dad let him sleep with my Mom. Dad asked for a transfer, and it cost him his promotion. Dad would rather work three jobs than do something dishonorable, especially something that would hurt Mom. I have strived to be like him...honest with integrity.
Dad's relationship with God was a private one. He left school at 13 to take care of his dying Mom. The Catholic Church would come to their door every week demanding their tithe money. Five kids without shoes or decent clothes to wear, and he became disillusioned with the church. He had a deep personal faith that didn't need a building to pray in. I have this same personal relationship with God. I pray daily and have conversations with Him when I need guidance. I may not sit in a pew with others, but I find comfort in this close relationship. – Cathy
When I was a little girl, as is true with all little girls, my dad was larger than life and my biggest hero. But he also had a scary temper, and when he was mad, we were all terrified of him. He pretty much abandoned all of us after his marriage to my mom fell apart, and he found a new wife to make kids with. I chased him my entire life, wanting to know who I was, and I know he was always perplexed by that. But he was the only dad I had, and I stubbornly loved him as well as I could. My dad had a big heart at times, and I know he would have loved me better if he had known how. His other children have asked me if I thought they were better off having stayed in his life. I'm pretty sure the answer to that is no - he wasn't very good at loving anyone, unfortunately.
I have had to work hard on my abandonment issues, partly because of him. I know that God would never abandon me, but I am still learning what that looks like. Still, I am grateful for many things I got from both of my parents. I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for them. – Pam
Don’t take yourself seriously. Don’t let every snack size upset or inconvenience grow into a super-sized deal. Like when you’re 19 and it’s the night before New Year’s Eve and the parties and plans don’t include you - so you dive into a self-pity pit, convinced all your friends have made extravagant plans without you. Does he let you wallow in the negative or does he pull out the yellow pages (that’s how we found phone numbers back in the 1900’s), flip to the M’s and dial the local McDonald’s to request New Year’s Eve reservations for two (while I melted from embarrassment because who makes reservations at McDonalds?!)
That’s what my stepdad did. My favorite tee I wore every day (and I mean every. single.day,), he kidnapped it and mailed a ransom letter (with photos). The snake that stopped me in my tracks? He picked it up and chased me until I could laugh through the fear.
Growing in my relationship with God, I’m learning to seek humor when fears try to stop me. And giggle through embarrassment. I can laugh at myself, unbothered by what others think. Taking God seriously means not taking myself seriously. I can hold everything else lightly because I know I’m carried by God. – Jennifer
My dad was a pastor, and a banker. How about that combo? I learned from him as a pastor to hold high integrity. He went through a church split and I never heard him speak an unkind word about those that mistreated him (they all apologized over the next decade or so). That part of his character stuck with me forever...
My same dad was also lacking in the area of affection, and grace...so somehow I missed that part of my relationship with God. Until I was 30. I then heard about God the Father and his loving, graceful ways, and how his mercy is new every morning. He was faithful to fill the gap of my relationship with my earthly father. And I'm still growing in His grace, every day. Grateful. - Marcy
I think, as father and mothers, we give from what we have. It ends up being obvious what we are lacking in. My father is generous with his time and talent; he makes repairs on our family vehicles that we could never afford on our own, like replacing whole engines, or actually giving us a whole car one year. He has helped us with projects on our home, and he drives all the way here to spend Thanksgiving with us. I appreciate that as he has grown older, he’s learned to share his life with me. He remembers to tell me when he’s really sick, or he finds me privately to share an important detail of his life. He’s learned vulnerability, and that means a lot to me. I also struggle to share my life, or so my husband tells me. It doesn’t come naturally to me, and I think it’s because it’s what I learned.
I believe strongly that Papa God wants to reveal himself to us through supernatural encounters with the Holy Spirit. Through these experiences, he heals deep wounds in our hearts and reveals our identities as sons and daughters. I had one of these experiences in a dream many years ago. I dreamed that my mother and I were sitting across from each on a bed in my bedroom. As I looked, two little girls came skipping down the hallway, one after another, right past the bedroom. The two little girls were also my mother and I, each at about 4 yrs old. A powerful presence of the Holy Spirit came over me and I began to prophesy to my mother: The Father says “We were NEVER alone! We were NEVER orphans! He has ALWAYS been our Father! We have ALWAYS been his daughters. He has ALWAYS taken care of us and watched over us! We will NEVER be alone! We belong to our Father!”
And then I woke up! Talk about a powerful experience. If only I had time to tell you of our childhoods! But God! He is always, always watching over His children. I love His love! - Laura