never felt like he was an absent father. He still was and is very present in our lives because the free time he did have was spent with us.

God placed him in my life to show me the positive impact and good that comes from the Fruits of the Spirit. He showed me a way of living that was totally different from anything I had known before. Whether he knew it or not, he allowed God to use him to fulfill a “must chapter” in my master plan of life.

If you’re a man, and have someone in your life that comes to you for advice or looks up to you in any way, don’t underestimate the importance of your influence. Hang in there with them. Because your presence matters.

Your child’s first defense is you. It does not matter what background you have, whether you had good examples or poor ones, you can make a difference in your child’s life; you can lay a foundation for their natural and spiritual success.

The hands on my watch don’t move anymore, but the watch is not broken. I have purposely disengaged the mechanism. I did this as a reminder to myself. The decision to disable my watch was a result of a morning that didn’t go as smoothly as planned. I was running late for work, and I […]

I think of you when I see my brothers and my children. I see you in my own quirky tendencies. I remember your desire for knowledge, your love for people, your silly humor that lightened up the room. Your legacy lives on.

Lake Michigan brought seagulls and warm sand to my childhood. The feeling of the lake air and the steady sound of the waves. The water smelled intoxicating. Except when the storms would wash up dead fish on the shore—then I would run and squeal and ask my dad to pick me up. I thought the […]

Fathers have an important responsibility in the upbringing of their children.  The presence or absence of a father can influence who a child becomes, and the effects can be positive or negative.  An absent or abusive father can generate feelings of anger, betrayal, and distrust in their children which could lead to aggression, disrespect, poor […]

As a young child, I thought all adults got married and then divorced. Not only were my parents divorced, but both sets of grandparents were divorced as well as every aunt and uncle. Divorce was the cancer that plagued my family tree, bringing with it abuse, abandonment, addiction, and general dysfunction. My mom and dad […]

“Catch us the foxes – The little foxes that spoil the vines For our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon 2:15 Dad’s Best Advice Looking back on my growing up years, and latter as an adult, my memories of my father are filled with love for his family. I remember him playing stoop tag […]