My second dad

This week my second dad went home to be with Jesus.  His name was Robert Reed - I called him "Uncle Bob".  He was only part of my daily life for a couple of years, but the imprint of his life on mine has lasted since then. 

When I was 15 years old, God called my parents to minister in Saigon, Vietnam.  So they left behind everything that was familiar in Minnesota and travelled halfway around the world to answer that call.  Not only were they called to a challenging church - ministering to the English-speaking community in Saigon during the war - but they also had to send all five of their children hundreds of miles away to a boarding school for missionary kids.  Now that I'm a mom, I can't even imagine how difficult that was for my parents.  But I do know how difficult it was for me.

However, that's not what I want to write about today : ).  Today I'm looking back with gratitude - realizing that not only did God love me enough to give me an amazing father on this earth - but when I couldn't be with him, he gave me a second dad who loved and accepted me during those very impressionable high school years.

Uncle Bob and his wife had four children of their own - and then on top of that they gave themselves to parent a boatload of extra girls.  I think there were 52 of us in the dorm during my senior year!  Can you imagine trying to be a dad for that many girls?!?!  That's ALOT of hormones in one place : )!!  I always thought my husband was a saint for living with me and three daughters under one roof for so many years : ).  So I guess that would make Uncle Bob a super-saint!!  I don't know how he pulled it off, but his warmth and love and quick smile were such a stabilizing force in my life during those years and I will be forever grateful for that.  I only wish I could have given him one more hug and told him that before he left. 

So today I am thanking God for Uncle Bob - and hoping he knows how his life touched mine.