The Dude That is My Dad

He was a nineteen-year-old lead singer and guitarist and of a well-known local rock band. 

She had lovely brown hair that cascaded down hair back and hung about her waist. 

Unfortunately, after only month of dating, they parted ways.

A few weeks later, she realized there was a child growing inside of her.

That child was me.

My mother told my father, but he didn't want to believe it was true. And, that was the last we heard of my dad.

Until I was sixteen, and I got a phone call from a sweet grandmother from Italy, my Nonna. She was his mother and wanted to meet me. My dad wanted to meet me. Everyone wanted to meet me.

And then, I became a part of the Hedges family.

It turns out, when I was seven, I wrote a letter to my father, but he didn't receive it, my grandparents did. And, because he had moved out of the state, they opened it and found out they had another grandchild.

They had hoped and prayed for a reunion between my father and I for many years, and when I was 16, he had a change of heart and wanted to find me.

My dad on many occasions has been compared to Jeff Bridges and the roles that he has played.

Some say he resembles "The Dude" from the film, The Big Lebowski, but, I'd say he's more like "Bad Blake" in Crazy Heart; an older musician just trying to achieve his dreams,

I've not actually seen him play in a concert,

but I do remember him playing his guitar and singing sweet hymns
to my Nonna as she slowly slipped away into the arms of Jesus.

And, that is one of the things I love about my dad. When you least expect it, he drops everything, and shows up.

In this way, he has shown me the love of God, my Father in heaven, who sacrificed everything to bring me into His Kingdom.

Even His one and only Son (John 3:16).

Just remember...

It's never too late to be a dad...Happy Father's Day!

An Ode to My Heavenly Father (from The Lord's Prayer):

Our Father in heaven,

You are the First Father, the Maker of us all, and we are your children,

Hallowed be Your Name,

Everything about you is holy, you are good and just, strong, and loving, faithful, and true,

Your Kingdom Come,

Please redeem this world, make all the sad things right again, give us a happily ever after,

Your will be done,

Though I may not understand the purpose in suffering sometimes, let the trials that you allow in my life bear fruit for Your Kingdom,

On earth as it is in heaven,

You are Lord over all and may all the nations worship you, for You alone are God,

Give us this day our daily bread,

For man does not live on bread alone, but on Your every Word,

Forgive our sins,

For all of us have sinned,

As we forgive those trespasses of the ones who have sinned against us,

We give to you the burden of our wounds, please bind them up and have mercy on those who have wounded us,

And, lead us not into temptation,

Please show us Your ways, O Lord, teach us Your paths,

But, deliver us from evil,

Keep us from working more evil in this broken world, and help us to bring Your light and love through the gospel of Jesus Christ,

For thine is the Kingdom and the Power, and the Glory forever,

It's all about You, through You, and for You, Lord,

Amen.

May it be so.