You're The Best Dad Ever!

You're the best dad ever! As I read the cards my boys gave me for Father's Day, this statement got me. Apparently of the billions of dads on the planet today, as well as all those who have gone before me, I have received the honor of being declare the best dad ever! I am speechless. Really, what do you say to that kind of honor? I wasn't prepared, so I have no remarks prepared for this incredible award.

I work really hard at this dad thing, but I really thought I had a lot more work to do before even being nominated for this award. When I look in the mirror, I don't see the "best dad ever." I see a flawed dad who is trying really hard to be a little less flawed tomorrow. While there are those moments when I stick my chest out in pride for getting it right, there are also those moments when I desperately wish I could have a do-over. There are times when I wish I could get a day back, or a week back, and just take another run at it. Unfortunately, that's not possible.

While do-overs aren't possible, we do get another shot. Like a baseball player who strikes out gets another chance to step up to the plate, we dads do get another opportunity. To illustrate my point a bit more, I want to share with you about one of favorite baseball players back in the day. Hall-of-Famer, Reggie Jackson, was nicknamed Mr. October because of how awesome he was during the post season. He was a big game player. Once in a game 6 of the World Series, he hit 3 home runs in-a-row to lead his team to a championship. With over 500 career home runs, Reggie Jackson was one of the game's best. For all his greatness, there is one record he holds that is not so great. Its a record that has stood for over 30 years. With 2597 strikeouts, Reggie Jackson is the all-time strikeout leader.

If you were to just focus on that one negative statistic, Reggie Jackson could never be considered a Hall-of-Famer. In fact, if teams only considered the number of times he struck out, he would struggle to find a roster spot on any team. So, how does the strikeout king become Mr. October? He always just stepped up to the plate and took another swing. Sure, he might strikeout, but he also might put one in the upper deck.

As a dad, I've struck out a lot. While I hope I'm not the all-time strikeout leader in the "being a dad game," I have definitely looked bad at the plate a bunch of times. There have been many times I would have booed myself as I stepped up to the plate yet, my name keeps getting called. Through the years, I've just learned to try really hard to put the past failures behind me and focus on this moment. There is indeed a chance I'll go down swinging, but bless God, I'm gonna take my cuts because maybe, just maybe, I'll knock that baby out of the park.

I'm sure the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) award for dads will always be up for debate. What I have discovered though, is that perfection is not required to be considered the G.O.A.T. Because if that is what is required, I'm not even in the conversation. And while I am happy to be just in the conversation, this past Father's Day weekend I discovered that not only am I in the conversation, apparently all 2 votes are in and I'm indeed the "best dad ever." Who would have thought it possible? Certainly not I. There are so many I need to thank for this amazing award, but most important are my 2 boys. I would like to thank them for looking past all the strikeouts and still believing that daddy can still hit the ball out of the park.

Tim is the lead pastor at Westlake Fellowship in Montgomery, Texas. If you live in the area, join us Sunday mornings at 10:30 am at 19786 Hwy 105 Suite 120 in Montgomery (beside Magnolia Diner).

For more on this topic of fathers, check out Westlake Fellowship's Father's Day message below: