My dad for the last 49 years has gotten up at the crack of dawn, made a lunch and has driven off into the sunrise. His craft is sheet metal welding and he is the best. He's the one person I've known in life that absolutely loves his job. He is an artist. He can look at a complicated blueprint and then make the most amazing things out of metal. It's just his gift. It's not even a glamorous job. He stands on a hard concrete floor in heavy work boots and layers and layers of clothes. In the summer heat he would come home and I would think to myself how does he do that...as he would take off his boots and his 4 pairs of socks. His face and neck "fireburned" and his arms always had little scabs from the sparks burning through his shirts. Yet he never complained. It was the job he was made for and that's all that mattered.
Today after all those years he is retiring. I know this is going to be a huge life change for him. When someone loves what they do and then they don't do it anymore...well that's got to be an adjustment. My prayer for him is that he will be able to rest, rejuvenate and find new purpose. Because no matter who you are or what stage of life you are in, we all need purpose. That's what gets us out of bed in the morning. I am so proud of him and the work he's done. I can't wait to see what this next season holds for my daddy!!
Have a blessed day!
