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Hey Dad,

Spring is here! It's nice to feel the warmth as we tool down the road in the Familyman-mobile. Actually, the RV does well in the cold. All you have to do is make sure you have plenty of propane and everything stays nice and toasty.

So you can imagine how cold we were when we ran out of propane about 2 A.M. one 35-degree night in the middle of a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Actually, if I completely covered myself with all the covers it wasn't too bad—but I knew the kids had fewer blankets than my wife and I did.

They're tough, I thought to myself, and they're kids—they like the cold.

From underneath our makeshift tent, my wife mumbled, "Put our comforter on the girls."

I hesitated, hoping she'd think I was asleep—or frozen to death.

She didn't buy it, and a few minutes later my girls were snug as two bugs.

In the early morning hours, I slipped out before everyone was awake and picked up a little space heater (reason #238 of why it's good to camp at Wal-Mart). As I set up the heater, Katherine (10) looked at the nice, cozy comforter tucked around her chin and said, "Thanks, Dad, for giving us your comforter."

A twang of guilt moved in my heart. "I hope it made you feel warmer," I responded.

Silence followed, and then she looked into my eyes and asked, "Were you cold without it?"

I smiled, hoping she wouldn't know the ugly truth—that I didn't want to give it up. But she asked the question again. Her adoring eyes and the tone in her voice told me that she was really saying, "You gave up your covers for ME? You were cold so I could be warm? I can't believe you love me that much."

She loved me for my sacrifice—although I didn't want to make it.

That's the kind of love my wife and children really want: the sacrificial kind. The kind that misses a business meeting to have lunch with them, turns off the ballgame to play a game, or gives up one of my comforts to bring comfort to them.

Here's the truth: Greater love has no father than this, that a dad gives up his comforter for his kid.

So, I'm going to look for things that I can willingly (or not so willingly) sacrifice for them—because they're worth it.

Go and do the same.

You 'da Dad,

P.S. Just to let you know, I got rid of Mama Raccoon and was comforted to know that so many of you had raccoon infestations of your own.

© 2007 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

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