Philip

Philip and I have been together for five years.  This is going to sound absurd to some and like a lie to others, but in five years, we have never had a fight.  He’s never raised his voice to me.  He’s never said anything that was intentionally aimed at hurting me.   He’s rather proved to me that fairy tales are true, which I always secretly hoped and I think actually knew, because what can possibly be more fairy tale-like than the story of Christ?  Love, in any form, seems to be for the dreamers and the believers of the impossible.

But I digress.

In the five years that I’ve been with Philip, I’ve seen him in the role of son, brother, husband, pastor, friend, mentor, teacher, and lastly, father.  It is this role that I want to talk about, a little late for father’s day, but important still.  Watching Philip with his children is more special than can be described.  This is something that you don’t have to take my word on, ask anyone in church or in the family.  In the same way he is with me, he is never inpatient with them, never seems frustrated, and above all, loves them in a way that clearly shows he would give his life for them.  He loves his boy, and I can’t wait to watch their relationship grow and develop, but there is clearly a special bond between him and Callie Grace, and that bond goes both ways.  Neither do well being apart from each other for long.  She looks for him first thing in the morning, she talks about him all day, she brings things to me to give to him when he gets home, and she becomes a sprinter when she hears the garage door open.  At times, but only in the best of ways, I feel like an intruder on their moments together.  But I feel like this is how it should be.  I would welcome anyone to come visit us, if for no other reason than to witness what I believe and father’s relationship with his children should look like.

One other quick note: I’ve been bizarrely sick these past few days (for those that have known me for a long time, isn’t that just typical!).  I have to say, and I say this with tears in my eyes, I have never felt more supported or loved.  My church family here has gone so far above and beyond what I could ever expect that I can’t possibly explain it.  My church family and biological family that aren’t here have sent prayers and support.  And then of course, there’s Philip.

There will always and forever, throughout eternity, be Philip.