The Call Back

Well, my dad called back last night, just as he said he would. I had prayed before talking to him. I talked it out with God and told Him all my insecurities about letting my dad have a bigger place in my life now, and God was really encouraging me to open my heart to my dad. I don't have to trust that my dad will always make good on his word or that he will never hurt me, but I do trust God, in that He has a plan in all of this. If I get hurt by my dad along the way, emotionally, I will just have to turn to God to heal that pain. God wants me to love others. That was one of his greatest commandments. I don't get to pick and choose who I will allow myself to love. God wants us to love others. When He said that, He didn't say we got to choose which others. In my case, "others" is including even my dad who was absent for so much of my life.

So, while I had my dad on the phone last night, I told him how proud I was of him. I am proud that he calls so often and that he has a job. He said that it meant so much to him to know that I loved him. After that we talked for awhile about God and our purposes. My dad thinks he is called to share the Gospels, which I wouldn't doubt. His dad was a pastor, so he's had the background. He said he knew a lady that was having a hard time a few weeks ago, and he helped her out. She told him he was a guardian angel, and he told her, "I don't know about that." He said they got to talking, and he had an opportunity to tell her about Jesus. It was really nice to hear him talk like that.

I also told him that he doesn't deserve to carry around all the guilt he does. He apologized, and I am ready to move on and accept the apology.

After we had talked for a little while, he said he would like to come up the first of the month and pay for the car in cash. He has already talked to someone about getting it back to Kentucky for him, so it seems this is really happening. I told my dad it seems like a huge blessing from God right exactly when we needed it most. My fiance will only have one pay check next month, and if my dad does pay us $500 for my car, it will cover almost exactly what we need it to cover. My dad said it was like a miracle that he had asked about it, and I agreed with him. Like I said, his memory is slipping, but if it hadn't been, he wouldn't have asked about it again, and I wouldn't have explained our financial situation to him. There is no such thing as coincidence when God is involved!

Do I Trust It?

Last night, my dad called, as he does about once a month or once every two months. We are not as close as some. I didn't grow up with him because my parents were divorced before I was born. He wasn't at the hospital when I was born, and the earliest picture I have of him with me was when I was about two. The earliest memory I have with him was when I was about five. My dad has struggled with alcoholism for my entire life and longer. I used to be angry about it, but I am not anymore. I know my time with him like this could be very short because of his past, and following the encouragement of my sisters, I do not want to miss any opportunities to get to know him.

Last night, he was just calling to check in, though. After my mom died, he really stepped up. I know that him calling once a month or once every two months doesn't seem like stepping up, but believe me, that is truly stepping up for him. I appreciate that he is making the effort more than many can even understand.

I know he is losing his memory a little. He told me for the third or so time that he has gotten himself moved down to Kentucky from Illinois and that he has a job helping to build a log cabin. He says he is living in a hotel right now for $150 a week, but he's OK with that for now because he's getting a three bedroom trailer. He said that the next time my fiance and I come to see the family in Kentucky, we won't have to worry about having a place to stay. I hated to break it to him, but I told him I had no idea when we would be able to get down there again. The truck takes so much money in gas. Big T hasn't been making even half of what he was this month and won't for next month, either.

Then he asked me what was wrong with my car. Again, I have told him this at least twice, but I explained to him again that my transmission blew. He asked me if I had gotten rid of it yet, and I said no. From there, he told me not to get rid of it because it was my mom's car, and it had sentimental value, which I am fully aware of. I wasn't ready for it to bust either. I told him that the tires were new two summers ago, the exhaust system was new two summers ago, and the a/c coolant was replaced last summer. He started to add up the cost of those three things, and then he threw me completely for a loop. He asked me how much I wanted for it like it is!

I told him I didn't have a clue what I wanted for it. I wasn't trying to sell it because it's junk, but he said he would buy it and fix it himself. He said he would be happy to give me $500 for it and fix it himself and that he could probably send the first $100 this weekend. He told me not to do anything with the car until it was paid, but when it was paid he wanted to come get it and take it back. He is trying to get his license back.

He has already surprised me this year by coming to my house for my birthday, for the first time in my entire life. He left his girlfriend he has had for most of my life, and he is doing something good and actually working. He's calling more, and he sounds happy, truly happy.

I know he will never be perfect, and I know his disease will not go away. He said to me yesterday that God had really gotten hold of him, though, and that he felt strongly he wanted to make up for what he missed out on. For some of his children, he has 8 in all, it is too late. Their hearts are hardened to him, but for me, he is the only father I have ever, ever known, good or bad. His other kids had step fathers, but my brother and I didn't.

At this point in time, I'm not too excited at the prospect of him buying my car because I really don't know if he'll come through. I know he would like to, but I don't want to factor that in to help us with bills if it won't really happen. It would be a giant blessing from God, though. It would keep us above the water and allow us to keep our bills paid for this month and next month.

I feel like I took his call nonchalantly, and he could tell. His tone was full of emphasis like he was trying so hard to prove to me that he wanted to make up for his mistakes, but he really will have to prove that he wants to do that. I cannot allow myself to get hurt over and over because he isn't really ready. I want to believe him, but I just don't know. What I do know is that I will believe my Heavenly Father. I will trust God that his will be done in this situation. I will trust God that he keep my dad accountable for his choices and his promises. I will trust God that he has plan, and we will go through the motions for as many days as God sees fit.

Please keep my dad in your prayers as he turns a new leaf in life. I'm proud that he is working. I'm proud that he is calling. I'm proud that he is living on his own, and I'm proud that his heart is in the right place. Just pray that he will keep those new found assets to his personality and that I will have an open heart to him. Pray that he can find peace in his mistakes and give them over to God because he has a very tortured soul, and no one deserves to carry that much pain.