Round 2, Day 8
Sunday, February 22, 2026
Welcome to Gratitude Sunday.
Every Sunday this year, I’m taking time to express how thankful I am for the people, the moments, and the things that have shaped my life. I call it the Thank You Campaign. And tonight’s post is about my dad.
My dad has been so many things to me over the course of my life, and I could go on for a while about all of them. But there’s one thing I want to highlight tonight: I want to love my wife the way my dad loves my mom.
I have witnessed it firsthand for as long as I can remember. He has been head over heels in love with my mother since they met in their twenties. Almost fifty years of marriage later, he still goes out of his way to make sure she’s taken care of and that she’s okay. That kind of love doesn’t just happen. It’s chosen, over and over, day after day. And I’ve had a front-row seat to it my entire life.
There are three ways this has shaped me that I want to share tonight.
He gave me security. Growing up, I never questioned whether our home was stable. I saw how my dad treated my mom. I saw them work through their problems. I saw them take care of things together. Their relationship was solid, and because of that, I felt safe. A kid who watches his parents love each other well doesn’t have to wonder if the ground beneath him is going to shift. That’s a gift I always appreciated and appreciate so much more now that I’m older.
He showed me what protection looks like. I have watched my dad defend my mother, and I am thankful for it. There are some things you just don’t do around my dad, and disrespecting my mother is at the top of the list. He didn’t just show me that their relationship mattered inside our home — he showed me that there are some people in this life you simply don’t get to mess with. For my dad, that is and always has been my mother.
He showed me what tireless love looks like. There have been times when my dad was burned to a crisp — tired, worn out, running on fumes. And he still went out of his way to love her and take care of her. Not because it was easy. Because that’s who he is. Love isn’t just the good days. It’s the days when you have nothing left and you give anyway.
Dad, if you’re reading these words, know that there are so many other reasons I’m thankful for you. But tonight I’m highlighting this one: I have watched you love my mother consistently, every single day of my life. It is one of the things I admire most about you. You showed me how to love my wife with that same kind of effort, that same kind of devotion.
I want to take care of my bride with the same heart you’ve shown Mom. That’s the standard you set. And I’m grateful for it.
Thank you, Dad.
Day 48 of 280. Gratitude Sunday — The Thank You Campaign.
The 740 Challenge 