The Heart Of A Man

It's a rare date night for Brandon and I. We make grand plans but somehow end up at a Movie Tavern in comfy clothes. The movie is alright, the food is alright but the time alone together is priceless. On the way home he says he misses Gemma. We've been away from her for a grand total of four hours. It's sweet and I'm reminded how much he loves her and what a great Dad he is. But it's more than that...

The day after this he'll leave for work. 10 days apart. Which I know is nothing for some families but it's a lot for us. His mind is racing with work responsibilities and the things he will miss while he's away. He's thinking about a friend who is lonely and a friend he lost. He's thinking about money and bills and how they never seem to balance out just right. He's thinking about me and what I need from him. He's thinking about our future and our pasts. He's thinking about it all while he drives us to a home he built with his own hands. His burden is so great but you'd never hear him say that. I am incredibly blessed to be able to stay home with Gemma and I don't take that for granted but I do know that it leaves him with a heavy, heavy burden and an enormous amount of pressure.

I bet you know a man like this and I bet you worry about him like I worry about mine. A man who responds unfailingly to life's demands no matter how unfair, a man who goes into the world, takes a beating and comes home smiling at you, a man who stands beside you when you're troubled and a man who loves you even when it's you causing the trouble...



He's been a good person. He's been a hard person. He's been both accepting and unforgiving. He is touched by life in a remarkable way. He is damaged and broken in places and somehow it's made him  more beautiful, valuable, powerful...



In the quiet moments when he feels he's losing the battle, You do all you can to bring him back from that edge. You thank him and encourage him, tell him how grateful you are and how loved he is. You protect him the way he protects you and somehow it's enough...



On this Father's Day I couldn't be more proud and relieved that a man like that is raising my children... My daughters will look for a man like that! I was lucky enough to stumble across him but they will search for what they have seen in him and I can't imagine a more valuable gift from a father to his children.



Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful, incredible world-changing Dad's out there! Including my own who has always been such a natural at being a Dad...

XOXO
Miranda