To My Dad on Father’s Day

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Dear Dad,

Looking back over the years, I see how your life has been filled with sacrifices. A sacrifice means it costs you something. 2 Samuel 24:24: ” … neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing.”

You’ve given up things you loved because family was more important. Back in Nathan, Christopher, and my early childhood days, you loved to fly small airplanes and be out on the sparkling water in a sailboat. Not only did you see that was taking away resources and time which could be used better, but you also knew it would create appetites in your kids for those same things.

You and Mom made the decision to only have three kids, after seeing Mom’s struggles with depression. Seven years later, when God changed your hearts, you had the courage to reverse that. Raising five more kids was a tremendous amount of sacrifice!

When God led you to leave your corporate job and start a business, that required more sacrifice.

While raising eight kids, you sacrificed so much time and money for our sake. Even now, you and Mom go out of your way to bless the married couples as opportunities arise. Not many people in their 60s would love to have single, young adults living with them. You not only welcome it, but you do it at no cost to us! Sacrificial love.

Sacrifice. The beauty of giving up something because you value something more.

You value your family, and your walk with the Lord Jesus more than anything else in this world.

Most recently, you’ve sacrificed your diet to have more years left to be with us and sharing with others.

Dad, thank you. Thank you for your sacrificial example. I love you!

Love,
Sarah for all EIGHT

Steve and Teri Maxwell
Dad with me, Anna, Mary, and Jesse on our “pre” Father’s Day celebration before the girls left

“That they might set their hope in God,
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments:.”
Psalm 78:7

11 thoughts on “To My Dad on Father’s Day”

  1. Happy Father’s Day, Mr Maxwell and to all you other Dad’s out there!
    God bless and much love from your friends in the UK.
    Xxxxxxxxx

  2. What a heritage, what a legacy for you children!! Cherish it; many of us don’t have it, and would give anything to have it!

    But by God’s grace, we will change that for the next generation; my husband is modeling to our children what a godly man, a godly father looks like. And I praise God that they will grow up with a godly heritage in a way that neither of us had!

    Thank you for the encouragement you give to us young families, to keep on pursuing higher things!

    1. Dear Friend, that was the cry of our hearts as we began our family. Hopefully, I get to meet your husband someday. What a guy.
      Blessings in our Lord Jesus,

      Stve

  3. Mr. Maxwell has been an example of the beauty of obedience to his Lord, Jesus. He encourages others to take steps of faith and obedience and forsake the lure of what the world has to offer. The sweetness of an eternity with the Lord is worth the momentary sacrifices we make to be more like Jesus and be a true follower. Happy Father’s Day, Steve.

    1. Bless you dear friend. Your family encourages ours.
      May we all stay the course in Christ.
      Steve

  4. Hi Sarah,

    I didn’t expect to be crying at a post on Father’s Day – but this has touched my heart a lot. Such a well written expression of appreciation, and it makes me love your Mum and Dad even more… to see the cost being paid, and to see the Lord’s free goodness being lavished in your lives.

    I think the thing which touched me most was when you said, “but you do it at no cost to us”.

    Praise God.

    Sarah

  5. Sarah, that was so beautiful and really touched my heart. Thank you for sharing this and encouraging me to be intentional to tell my dad how thankful I am for him!

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