Written By: Darryn Mills
I’m sure that many of you have a special connection with your dad, but I definitely do. When I was born I had no kidney function and was put on dialysis for the first three years of my life to keep me alive. Once I was big enough I had a kidney transplant and guess who the donor was…that’s right my dad gave me one of his kidneys. When I look at the scar on my belly, it is a constant reminder that shows me how much my dad loves me. He isn’t just my dad he is also my hero.
Growing up, my dad and I have always been close. He has taught me many life lessons and has shared some of his wisdom with me. He taught me how to throw a spiral, how to shoot a puck, and how to use the BBQ. He has taught me the value of a dollar and shown me why and how to save your money. Every day I see how to properly treat a woman by the way he treats my mom.
For the past few months he has been working on a house for my grandparents. Many days after working all day, he has gone to the house and not come back until 10:00 or later. He does this as a labour of love. He is an impeccable example of a man who loves God with all his heart and I strive to be more and more like him.
I have been blessed to have been raised in a Christian home where faith has been tightly knitted in our roots. I am the only one of my siblings that inherited my dad’s blue eyes. We also share the same sense of humour, and many people say that I look a lot like him.
Growing up Dad was a major jock in grade school and high school. He was the captain of pretty much every sports team and held many track and field records. At a certain point people said that he could have made it into the NHL. I guess I get my love of sports and athletic capabilities from him.
When my dad was a teenager his mom gave him a gold pendant and chain. It is an anchor with a ship’s wheel attached to it. The anchor symbolizes the Bible verse Hebrews 6:19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, both sure and steadfast”. When I was a pre-teen he passed down this family heirloom to me. I wear the anchor often, not just because I think it looks cool or for the sentimental value, but I wear it as a symbol of my faith in Jesus Christ and to show what He means in my life. Like an anchor of a ship keeps it from wandering away from port, Jesus is our anchor, one that we can trust, who will keep us still through the storms of life. Just like a wheel steering in a direction, when we put our trust in Him, He will also direct our path.
I am the man I am today because of my dad and the way he raised me. Proverbs 22:6 “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it”. He was not afraid to show me tough love by teaching me right from wrong. As I got older I realized that just like God disciplines his children, so did my dad. He never punished me because he enjoyed it, he did it so I would learn a lesson and become a better person because of it.
Dad, thank you for all the time you sacrificed, all of the little life lessons, and raising me to be a young man of God. You are leaving a legacy of faith for everyone that knows you. I Love You!
Uniquely Yours Ministries 