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Hey Dad,

I've been feeling pretty thankful—not just for the usual stuff of having a job, good health, and a roof over our heads, although I'm deeply grateful for all that stuff.

I've just been feeling especially thankful for all the chaos, commotion, and pandemonium of my house—that is, when it's not driving me insane. I'm not sure what's come over me, except that I was lying in bed the other night and a wave of "I'm running out of time" swept over me.

I've always been aware that my children aren't going to be around my house forever, but that night, as I lay there, it hit me that it's going to be a whole lot sooner than that. My sons, Ben (15) and Sam (13), probably won't be around in 5 to 10 years. That's it. I have shoes older than that.

I can barely imagine coming downstairs in the morning and not see them sitting at the table or on the couch reading their latest book. A few more years beyond that and Katherine won't be making crafts and messes in her room. A few years after that, Abe and Ike won't be leaving my tools scattered around the garage anymore.

I could go on, but I won't. Instead, I'm going to be thankful for:

• unrelenting messes
• constant chaos
• clutter galore
• fighting and bickering
• bad attitudes
• noise

I almost wrote "unending" hard work, but one day it will end, and I will miss it. I already do, just thinking about it.

So, my fellow Dad, can I encourage you to take three minutes and give thanks to God for all the stuff that annoys you now and will all too soon be over.

By the way, I'm thankful to be your friend.

You 'da dad!

© 2008 Todd Wilson. Used by permission

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