A story of my never-wear-jeans Daddy

My Dad with his big belly in Liberty Statue,USA

                Here’s a story of an awesome man. A husband to a stunning woman and a Daddy to two gorgeous daughters. He’s been living for ± 21170 days on earth (plus 9 months in his mother’s womb) until today. Yep, today he’s celebrating his 58 of age. Hence, I want to write a story of him and how he inspires me in around 20 years of my age (minus the first 3 years of my ‘babyhood’ when I couldn’t recall any memory of it). Yeah, this is a story of a man I call Daddy.

·                 In my childhood, the only thing I can remember is I was closer to Dad than to Mom. It was because Dad was my place of refuge in my time of need. Dad was there to fulfill my needs when mom says no ;).  You may experience some moments in your childhood when your Mom forbids you to buy some stuffs, then you run to your Dad to ask the very thing and he accedes your request.  I experienced that in my childhood. A nice part to remember. J

The thing that I realize is that, despite of his kindness, he’s not a YES MAN. There are some things that he strictly hindered me doing for the sake of my safety and for my good. Often time his decisions are quite perverse like when he didn’t want me to ride a bike to avoid me having scars or had accident (well yeah, my house was in area where cars and motorcycles often pass by but that couldn’t be a reason for me to not be permitted to learn how to ride bike, right?). In the flip side, he allows me to learn to be independent since my very young age. He let me fly from Manado to Jakarta (transit in Ujung Pandang) by plane and by myself. I was around 8 or 9 at that moment. As a result, I have such confident to do things on my own tho I’m the last in series (read: anak bungsu). J

·         Around my years in Junior High, I admit that I was inspired with the way my Dad works his best for our family. We were living in abundance for God’s grace. Rolling back the time, there is one lowest point of our family life when my Dad got arrested for the case of corruption he didn’t commit. It was right at the time our Governor about to promote him as the head of regency in South Minahasa. I wouldn’t blame those people who didn’t like him. I knew God has plan through that tribulation. My point is, I thank God to see how my Dad and our family respond to this case when we pray together for those who treated us wrong and forgave them. At the end of the day, this case closed and my Dad has been proven true and not committed anything wrong. My dad has a chance to suit or claim the court for putting him in jail, but he didn’t do so. He demonstrated how Christian should love (even our enemies) and should as well forgive. Epic!

·         I was even mesmerized with his faith. It was in the mid of my study in university. It was when my Mom did a medical check-up in some hospitals in Penang, Malaysia and doctors stated that she had a colon cancer. It was another great issue in our family. Another shocking moment, since my Mom spent 3 times going to hospital in Manado and doctors there said it was only gastric inflammation or something. -.- Phew..

Let me get to my point, my mom, my Dad and one care-taker need to fly back and fro Manado-Penang for cemotherapy and some check-ups. And it was costly, for heaven’s sake. So far we spent almost a billion rupiahs. Yet, we can see the hands of God at work in this financial problem. I heard a testimony of my Dad about God’s miracle: One time in a plane to Jakarta, he has a misunderstanding with my mom and finally found out that they didn’t bring enough money to another cemo in Penang. They prayed together in the plane, asking for God’s favor. And you know what’s happen? Just after they arrived in Soe-tta Airport, they met the Head of Talaud regency that quickly gave them around ten millions rupiahs. I believe that’s not a coincidence. More story of God’s favor, when they were still walking in the airport, they met our Governor, to make the long story short, Mr. Governor also hand them the same amount of money right at that time. In another day, the wife of our Governor also hand my mom US$1000 for the sake of her treatment. And many more from some unnamed heroes and givers that God sent to help our family. It’s not our family connection with some well-known people that I want to emphasize here, It is man’s faith and God’s favor that we should pay attention of. (later, I should write another awesome story from my stunning Mom ;) )

·            One last thing about him that inspires me is his habit of giving. My Dad is a cheerful giver. He never considers loss and profit when it comes to giving.. and I start to think that I have that very habit in my DNA. I give generously (and so does my sister).  Our family believes in Proverbs 11: 24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. We do believe that it is happier to give than to receive. Thank God that I was born in this family which has a big concern with the poor, the needy, the unemployed, the sick, and the homeless. <3

In conclusion, although my Dad wasn’t a perfect Dad. He does many things that I dislike, but he still my great Daddy with a big belly and never wear jeans. Haha. I wouldn’t ask God for another Dad. I love him. I love my family.

Happy birthday, PAPA!

Much love from your pretty daughter

*hug&kisses*