I’ve just had a glimpse of what kind of father my son, Andy, may be some day. I was out watering the sunny marigolds when Andy pulled into the driveway. He got out, opened the backseat door and out jumped his golden retriever pup, Zeke.
Andy had arrived for Sunday dinner. I put down the hose, and we joined the others in the backyard—my husband, our daughter, son-in-law and baby granddaughter. Zeke romped around the grass with our two dogs.
It’s a blessing to see my kids grown into adults. To watch them raise their own families. I think about Andy–the one I still see as the teen who scatters his baseball cleats in the hall and sleeps until noon on weekends. Yet he’s not a teen anymore. He’s a 25-year-old young man who graduated from college, has his own car, apartment and a responsible job.
So what kind of dad would he be? He’s has a great example in his own father, a man who puts his family first and keeps his focus on God. And from his grandfather as well. But what tells me a lot today is how he cares for his dog.
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When Andy arrived, I watched him unhook the boisterous dog from the canine restraint. He looks out for his dog’s safety. As Zeke tugged and pulled on the leash to greet me, Andy corrected him with a firm but gentle voice. He teaches his dog. And later, as we all sat around the patio table, he made sure Zeke had water and a comfortable place to relax. He nurtures his dog.
By being a loving caretaker of Zeke, he’s showing some of the skills he’ll need to parent a real human baby–and the greatest of these is love.
