Bjcorbin's Blog

Today is my forty-seventh birthday, and it’s been a good day.  Despite the issues I’m facing in this season on my life, I wouldn’t trade this birthday for any of the ones that came before it.  I’m blessed to have found my soul-mate and together we have four incredible kids, that I love with all of my heart.  We are rich in the things that truly matter.

We’ve been really busy today and I haven’t had much time for reflection, but just now my baby girl (Bekah) hugged me, wished me happy birthday and looked up toward heaven and said, “Happy Birthday Grandpa”.  I almost burst into tears at the realization that today would have been my father’s seventieth birthday. 

One of the great joys of my life was sharing a birthday with my dad and I’m ashamed to admit that I hadn’t thought about him today.  God knows I miss him and would have loved to have shared this day with him.  He was a fine man and incredibly patient with me; unfortunately, I was a kid who required a lot of that.  In honor of him, I wanted to re-post a tribute I wrote for him just before he passed away.  It’s probably not my best writing, but it was (and is) certainly the cry of my heart.  Happy Birthday Dad – I love you.

  

I Never Saw My Father Dunk a Basketball

I never saw my father dunk a basketball

and he never became a CEO

But I saw him live by what he believed

which showed me what was important for my life

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I never saw my father hit a home run

and he never held a public office

But I saw him serve his wife, children, church, country…

which showed me that life was about something more than myself

*

I never saw my father make his first million

and we never lived in a mansion

 But I never knew what it was like to miss a meal

which showed me the difference between wants and needs

*

My father wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth

and he never won the lottery

But I saw my parents build a life for their family, with little or no help from anyone

which taught me that where you come from is no excuse

*

I never saw my father’s name in the headlines

and he never made it onto a highlight reel

But I watched him support others and be a team player

which showed me that secure people don’t need the spotlight

*

I never saw my father lift a weight

and he never made the Olympics

But I saw him be committed & work hard at every endeavor

which showed me that strength has more to do with character than muscle

*

I never saw my father receive his degree

and he was never deemed a Scholar

But I saw him lead his family through the good and bad times

which showed me that wisdom isn’t what you say, but how you live

*

I never saw my father paint a picture

and he never wrote a song

But I saw him cry & say “I Love You”

which let me know that it was OK for a man to do that

*

I never saw my father overpower anyone

and he wasn’t much for intimidation

But I saw him be patient when others struggled

which showed me that exposing others weaknesses, doesn’t make you strong

*

I never saw my father in the pulpit

and he wasn’t one to quote you scripture

But I saw him pray to God

which showed me that God was real & that I needed Him too

*

I never saw my father run a marathon

and he never climbed Mount Everest

But I saw him endure a cruel terminal illness with grace and perseverance

which taught me that you have to keep running until you cross the finish line

*

My father wasn’t above losing his temper

and I saw him take some missteps along the way

But I heard him say “I’m sorry” & watched him learn from his mistakes

which showed me the way I needed to handle my failures

*

My parents didn’t have a perfect marriage

and I can’t say that there was never a struggle

But I watched them stay together for 48 years

which taught me that love is like a garden & it requires regular tending

*

I have often disregarded my father’s advice

and I have many times made disappointing choices

But he never made me feel like a disappointment & loved me anyway

which taught me about the love & forgiveness of a father (& “Our Father”)

*

As I reflect on my father’s life, I realize that he was never what this world tells you that you “need” to be, but that he was in fact what God made him to be. If my father had been rich or famous, I doubt that I would have learned so much and I know that my life wouldn’t have been better. Reflecting on my father’s life shows me that I shouldn’t waste time worrying about what I’m not and what I don’t have; but to make the most of everything that I’ve been given. At the end of my life, I would be pleased if it could be said of me that, “he was a loving, committed husband, father, brother, son, friend…”; “you could always count on him”; “he loved God and tried to live for Him”; “he served his family, his church, his country…”; “he made a difference in my life”. I guess for me it would just be easier to say, “he was just like his father”. Yes, that would please me.