Sunday, June 17, 2012

A Fully Fantastic Father

    Today is Fathers Day, so I wish to take a moment of your time to celebrate my father. Do not get me wrong, I am sure your father is a great guy. I am sure he is loving and kind and a decent person. But my father beats your father, though perhaps only in the metaphorical sense. As per his love of alliteration, (notice the title?) I will be using 'F' words to describe him.

      Fun: If you have met Mr. Nic you know that he loves to have fun. Come over to my house and I can guarantee you will play a game or two before you leave. Many a day passes on Pikes View that features some fun activity occurring, be it Trivial Pursuit Golf (always in the quest for the perfect 6!), Fast Scrabble, card games, or some kind of sport. When I was younger, the summers were spent playing wiffle-ball, football and basketball. He has made a 9 hole Frisbee golf course on our land. It is thanks to him that I ever began to love baseball. He was a big fan of the sport, so I wanted to be a big fan too. Many baseball card packs were opened, many Oriole games attended, and many baseball seasons were spent coaching my teams. He also coached several of my basketball teams, continues to coach the Walkersville tennis team, and enjoys watching college basketball-- though we won't mention what team.... Simply put, if fun is to be had, my father is probably right in the middle of it, enjoying life.
        Friendly: Raise your hand if you do not like John Nicodemus. Aside from the fact I cannot see if you are raising your hand, I can assure you that no hands are being raised. My dad is the friendliest person I have ever met. Yes, I realize he was not always a friendly teacher to some of you, but you probably deserved it. All jokes aside, he really is an open, sincere person who is extremely empathetic. If a new person is to be met and 'friended' immediately, I can assure you he is right there ready to meet them. The amount of random people who have told me, "Oh my goodness I love your father! He is just so great!" is absurdly large. I honestly grew up assuming every father was like that. It is one way, of many, that I want to be more like him. 
         Faithful: As in father, husband, church attender/elder, fan, teacher, coach, etc. It is because of his faithfulness to God in leading our family that I am who I am today. It always breaks my heart to hear about families where the head of the household is not present or actively trying to grow and strengthen his family. I know that I did not always appreciate the discipline-side of him, but his tough love forced me to grow up while still protecting and loving me. I do not know what position I would be in if it was not for his gentle, yet firm, hand in my life. His letters and emails of encouragement have gotten me through some rough times in my collegiate life. His words of affirmation and Scripture always fill me with a feeling of self-worth and peace. His sacrificial lifestyle, even in the 'little things' has made me want to be a better, more selfless son, boyfriend, friend, and student. My father treats my mother like the queen of the family that she is. He is the protective, loving father that the three children needed-- and still need sometimes even now. 
           Financial: This one might seem more trivial after the last word, but I assure you, to me it carries a similar weight of importance. You see, to this day I still struggle with understanding how a bright, hardworking CPA could freely follow God in His will and leave the industry to go into ministry work and teaching. As an aspiring CPA myself, it remains the biggest and best reminder of what devotion to God looks like; being ready and willing to give God what He wills, no matter the professional or personal cost. And no, his financial skills are not gone. He has helped me on my taxes for several years and helps my home church and other Christian organizations with their finances. 
            Fortitude: Fun fact-- I have never once heard my father complain about his Parkinsons. Not once. In eight (?) years. This, coming from the kid who complains more than I care to admit, is amazing to me. In a more trivial matter, ask him how many miles he rode his bike when he worked at the middle school. Now that took some fortitude. No matter how trivial or serious the issue, his strength and courage to face any challenge, disappointment, and discouragement is a testament to his kindly nature and his grounded faith in Christ. 
            These couple of words cannot do John Charles Nicodemus justice. Maybe you aren't convinced that he is the best father in all the world. Maybe you think I am exaggerating his positives. I would argue three things: 1. If you knew him, you would agree   2. I would argue I under-exaggerated his positives and 3. He will always be a hero to me. What do I mean? I mean that I want to be like him when I am older. More than that, I want to be like him now. I want to be that humble, that hardworking, that diligent and that kind. I want to be smart and wise and judicious like him. Honestly, if I am half the husband and father he is when I am older, I will consider myself fortunate. If I can touch the lives of half the people he has helped, I will have changed thousands of peoples lives for the better. 
            Thank you, father, for being a committed, loving dad to Emily, Anna, and I (and grandfather to Caroline Eva!). Thank you for continuing to support us physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you for being the kind of leader Paul describes in 1st Timothy; a 'sober-minded', 'respectable' man of the faith.  Thank you for being a role model to many, many people, chiefly to your only son. Dad, Happy Fathers Day. I love you.

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