Our June Devotion, Day 3

Thursday, June 10th, 2010

Our 19 ear old son wrote this article for our June/Father's Day issue.
Many have been blessed by it.

For Father’s Day By Matthew Black

Earlier this month, when Mom had finished the last issue of her devotion, she had mentioned to me that she was going to ask Sara, Josh and myself to write something about Dad if we wanted to. What’s funny is she didn’t have to, I wanted to write something about him. As long as I can remember I’ve always heard how my Dad was such a great man, how he is always smiling and always in a good mood. Then they turn around and ask me, “ is he always like that?”. I’m hear to tell you that most of the time he is. The only time he isn’t is when one of us kids goes off and does something dumb or something that he just does not agree with. So yeah, he’s like that most of the time, but just give his kids a chance to do something to get him aggravated and he wont be smiling. He wont have a definite mad look or be yelling, but he just won’t be smiling. His temper has always been hard to bring out, you really have to push him far to get him mad, and yes, I have done that before, ha ha ha.
But here’s something for ya’ll that you probably wont believe, he does not push any of us to be anything like him. Of course he pushes us to be the best Christians we can be in a rough world, but he also knows and completely under-stands that you can and will mess up. It’s a good things he does too, because I’m the type I usually have to learn the hard way on most things. Trying to tell me anything is usually a waste of time. Him and Mom both know that and that’s why they usually wont say anything when someone thinks they should. And its not that I don’t respect them, I’m that way with almost everyone. Its mostly because I’ve heard so much till I’m just tired of talk and am just ready to try it and see for myself what works and what doesn’t. And for what it matters I’m not a bit ashamed of that, I wont brag about it either but I wont apologize for learning.
For what its worth, I told Mom that I would probably sound kind of in your face and basically like a brat or what ever you want to call it. The fact of the matter is, this is the way I think. I cant help it, its just the way I am. I don’t talk this way, but I think this way. That’s something my dad has always taught me. It’s ok to think like that, just don’t talk it or act it unless you just need to for a very limited reason or circumstance. And that being said I really do like to be around laid back and very relaxed people that like to have fun.
Now you may be wondering why I am telling you all of this extra- here’s the reason! When usually anyone has met me before they find out I’m Joe Black’s son, they can hardly believe it. And here’s another shocker, I don’t strive to be him, and he doesn’t want me to, and he will tell anyone that I am telling the complete truth. I have always strived to be the best Christian I can be, that being said I try to be myself, the best Christian young man I can be. Dad is proud of that because I’m not scared of doing this by any means, nor am I a bit ashamed or worried I might mess up, because I know I’ll mess up. The thing about messing up is that usually if you do it bad enough the first time, usually you wont try it again. This is something he’s been doing with all of us our whole life.
The bottom line with Dad is that, he has really been a great example in so many ways, I don’t even know where to begin. He’s not perfect, and I’m glad he’s not. It just shows me its ok to mess up. Not that its ok to go out and do it just because we can, but that when we do, he knows it can and will happen and that he won’t kill us when we do, ha ha ha. And in saying all of this my current boss has heard me talk about my Dad a lot, and one thing we both agree with is that he’s helped to raise me to be one of his best guys that he can rely on. That’s something that isn’t found much at all anymore, so it’s a really valuable and appreciated character, when its found.
All in all, I cant say I have a real reason to be unhappy or a bad kid, or anything else like that. Instead I have all I need to help other people and be someone real and successful in today’s world. Thanks Dad, you didn’t do it alone I know, but you helped a lot more than you’ll ever know!