Happy Father’s Day, South Cobb.

I’m spending today with my father.

My dad taught me how to ride a bike, and he taught me how to drive a car. He washed my hair in the kitchen sink and would watch "Blossom" with me when he’d rather watch football. He kept the macaroni art and handmade snowflake ornaments I made as a child, and he came to every recital, every choral performance, every play and poetry reading I had. He made me chuckle and shake my head with his corny jokes and country sayings.

I am so grateful for him and what he's done. Since it’s Father’s Day, I thought I’d share the reasons I love him.

• He’s always there for me. Always.

•  He made education a priority. When I was a child, I had dolls and other toys, but my books and educational games far outnumbered everything else I had.

• He taught and showed me what work ethic and integrity are. I bet I’ve heard him say at least 2 million times, “work before play.” Over and over. I couldn’t ride my bike if the dishes hadn’t been washed. I couldn’t play with my friends if my room was a mess or the rooms in the house hadn’t been vacuumed.

•  He loved the Lord and was able to back up what he told me with scripture.

• He believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.

Comedian Chris Rock joked in one of his stand-up specials that a father’s main goal is keeping his daughter “off the pole.” It’s funny, but also has a bit of truth as silly as that sounds.

A father (and a mother) should make sure that their children know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are loved by their parent(s.) When a child is loved by the people who raised her, then she can go on to excel because she believes in her abilities and is able to love others.

Thank you, Dad, for loving me as much as you have and as much as you do. I’m not saying that he’s perfect, but he is intentional in all that he does, and he’s nothing short of incredible. Even with his corny jokes and country sayings.