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EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

As I sit this early morning at my computer, the words fall easily.

I have chosen to share with you about an amazing person in my life: my dad. He turns 80 this week.

As we prepare to surprise him, I have been nostalgically gathering my thoughts.

He loves when I make cream puffs. His accomplishments, in my opinion, are lengthy and the wide diversity displays his personality. Variety is a lifeline of his vitality.

When I was little, he was a college student, got his first teaching job and coached gymnastics. Having been a pole vaulter himself in high school, he had experience — and a broken nose.

In the summer months he took on part-time work. He owned a split-window red corvette that, as a little girl, I did not appreciate riding in the back of. It was tight even for a small frame, thus I complained. His solution was promising me that someday I could maybe have it. Oh mercy, that’s a financial treasure today. It doesn’t belong to me as he had to sell it so he could provide for his growing family.

Hard working is a trait he and my mom passed on to all five children.

He was traveling with one job on the road when some unethical practices popped up. He quit on the spot! I have always admired that, although it likely caused my mother stress when he left the company car at the airport and came home unemployed to her and three kids.

Dad is a minimalist. He can pack his livelihood in a minivan and has — he loves adventures. Traveling abroad politically and for enjoyment has been a favorite.

He was a politician for many years, owned a hardware store, ran a canning company, worked at Augsburg College and then at Vineland as a consultant.

He received a master’s degree from Harvard at age 50 from the Bush-Fellowship Grant.

He was an amazing, kind and loving caregiver to my mother, who had early-onset Alzheimer’s, rode his bicycle from Minnesota to Maine, loves the outdoors and is a thoughtful, compassionate, coffee loving person.

He loves his siblings and they have created a sweet little community. As they have all aged they travel, play music and play cards online together.

Dad can get stressed. He is a recovering alcoholic of over 40 plus years and has sponsored many others. He is my superhero!

My faith began as a young girl under his loving direction. He is my earthly father, and he is the best one for me. I am thankful that I can also say:

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” — Romans 8:16, ESV

Dad, I love you. I am so blessed to be yours. Thank you for helping mold me into who I am. Thank you for loving, encouraging and being proud of me. Happy birthday!

Robin (Beckman) Gudal is intentional in life, a wife, momma, nana, friend and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.