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The
Father of Unusual Surprises
By Cara Baker I just got home from fighting traffic all afternoon in the blazing sun. My feet ache, my hair needs to be washed, and I only have an hour until church starts. My Dad's standing in the backyard, as usual, keeping his landscaping flawless and beautiful, as if a photographer for Homes and Gardens will appear any day. He motions me to come over and look at something. I'm thinking, "Great, like I have time for this!" He points to a tree not far off from our patio with a little wooden birdhouse he had built a few weeks ago. Inside, two house wrens nestle snugly, waiting patiently for their mother to return with food. I'm charmed to see a creation of my Dad's being used so beautifully by nature. I forget about the traffic, the blisters on my feet, and the ticking minutes. I take time out to sit and watch a bird. My Dad's always had a knack for creative and thoughtful things. He finds life’s beauty in the small, simple things. He's always making small gestures that make you stop and take notice because they speak volumes of his gentle spirit and loving heart. I graduated a few weeks ago. A lot of family members came in to celebrate with me, so we had a party planned after graduation at the church. In the bustle of leaving a crowd of several hundred at my outdoor graduation, we hurried home in several cars to pick up last minute things to head for the party. My 10-year-old cousin and I left the house in a flurry to finish setting up at the church, which is about 30 minutes away. I got to the first stop light and my cousin says, "Hey Cara, look!" By the telephone pole where yard sale signs usually litter the side of the road, a wooden sign painted yellow announced, "Congratulations Cara! You did it. Go class of 2000." I cracked up laughing. That was just like my Dad. I recognized the stenciled letters (he stencils everything). But that wasn't all. For the entire trip to church we counted sign after sign on the side of the road. My mother told me later that he had put them all up in the middle of the night. Such a creative, slightly corny, but entirely sweet, gesture came as no surprise to me on one of the most important days of my life. I strive for the creativeness and gentle spirit my Dad exemplifies. His little gifts show his love for me and make me realize how proud I make him. The Bible reminds us that as sweet and as thoughtful as
gifts from our loved ones may be, our Heavenly Father blesses us far beyond what
natural man can do. "If you, then,
though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more
will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him"
(Matthew 7:11). ninetyandnine.com © 2000, Cara Baker -------- Cara Baker graduated Cum Laude from Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., this May. A native of Nashville, she is currently working on freelance projects and taking every opportunity to travel this summer before settling down to a real job.
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