I have this great little truck.  Well, I call it a truck.  It’s a 1996 GMC Jimmy.  It’s black, two doors, 4WD, tinted windows, big exhaust.  It is in great shape.  This Jimmy has been taken well care of and runs perfect.  I got it about a year ago.  I’m usually not too sentimental about automobiles, but this one is special.  It was my dad’s truck.  My dad passed away two years ago this coming June.  My family decided to give me dad’s truck.  I was floored.  I wasn’t sure how I was going to deal with it, but it has been a wonderful experience.  I took my son, Simon, down to Tulsa (we rode with friends) to pick it up.  That night we took it out to the car wash to clean it up.  I remember shining the bumpers and watching him detail the wheels.  It drives solid.  My kids really like the “Jimmy!”  We washed all the dust off and cleaned out the door jambs.  We “armor-alled” the dash and interior panels.  We srubbed the engine compartment.  I remember my son asking me all sorts of questions about dad.  My dad kept all sorts of things in his truck.  Tool kits, emergency kits, extra tail light bulbs, tow straps, you name it.  It was a great chance to talk with Simon about my dad.  My dad and I had our issues, but I want my kids to know how much I loved him and how much he loved me.  It took about eight hours to drive back from Tulsa.  Simon and I were a team.  There are all sorts of little towns along Highway 75.  Every time we’d hit the border of a town it was “In town, windows down!”  And we’d let the fresh air in as we cruised the small town main street.

My dad never got rid of anything and he was always prepared.  I remember he always kept a band-aid in his wallet.  I still have pretty much everything in the truck that dad had.  ”You never know” he’d say, “when you’re going to need something.”  In fact, I have all dad’s tools and more than once I’ve said to Cindy, “I bet dad has a fix for this!”  I’ll go out to the garage and dig around a little and come up with a plumb-bob or a finishing nail set or a battery post scrubber.  He never got rid of anything and he was always prepared.  I want to pass this on to my kids.  Only, I want to go one step further.  I want my kids to be prepared for anything God wants them to do.  I want them to prepare their hearts, their souls, for the spiritual battle that is in their future.  Dave Ramsey always says “Visa’s got a plan!”  Well, I say “Satan’s got a plan!”  He’s got a plan for ruining my family.  He’s going to try and use my vices, my weaknesses, my children’s naive hearts.  He’s going to try and steal their innocence through the TV and the internet.  I want them to have a plan, so I’d better have a plan.  In the past, at times, I’ve thought to myself, “You are not ready to be a father!”  But, that, too, is part of Satan’s plan.  He wants me to believe that I don’t deserve to be the father of these children.  The plan has ALWAYS been for me to have these children.  God’s plan has always been for me to raise them.  I just need to stick to the plan.  We all need to accept the ministry we have before us…our children.  Don’t make it a secondary task that takes a backseat to even the most noble callings.  His plan for you and your family will be revealed to you as you seek out guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Have a great day and God bless,
—Jason

Tags: family, fathers, Relationships