A Few Good Men

One of my dad's favorite movies is "A Few Good Men" starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson. It's a movie about honor, courage, and doing what is right. . . three things that describe my father. With all of the disappearing fathers today, there has been countless research on the affect a father has on his children. Beyond that, studies have shown that any male influence has an incredible affect on the social and cognitive development of minors.

I was privileged to have not only an incredible dad, but many other godly men in my life who tried to raise me right. This blog entry is a testament of God's Grace.

First of all, my dad is my greatest hero. The picture above tells a tale of who he is: Husband to a beautiful gal who loves the lord, and a father who is involved in the lives of his children . . . so involved and caring that he would wear a "THS Cheer Dad" t-shirt to a football game. Yet you can tell by his hands that he works hard. He's honest and trustworthy. Those same hands held me when I cried and showed me how to worship. They directed my eyes to lines of scripture so I could follow along.

My little brother, Caleb is my second hero, and you can tell by this picture that my little brother is becoming a man. He is witty, intelligent, thoughtful, and strong. I love being with him and watching him grow up to be a man of God. He has a great example in my dad, and I know he will be an excellent father and husband some day by the grace of our lord Jesus Christ. I'm so glad that I have a brother and I don't know what I would do without him.

This picture of grandpa Rich explains his personality well.

He has a such a sweet disposition and you can tell that he loves my grandma very much. I'll never forget all the stories that gramps read to me and told me growing up "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening," The "Friendly Monster," and the story of Jesus in Luke 2. Gramps always makes the best ice cream cone balls and he does the best "human trumpet." But aside from all of his "grandpa traits," he's an honest-to-good man who loves Jesus and loves his family. He does not judge. He does not act in anger. He is safe and constant. I love my "gramps."

Grandpa Carroll is another great man of the faith. I know that my dad gets his hard work ethic from him. As I was growing up, he was always up to something on the farm. I loved being at grandma and grandpa Imig's house. We would climb up in the hay loft and ride the donkeys. Grandpa Carroll knows just about everyone. That's probably evident by the fact that grandma and grandpa were the Tazewell County Republicans of the year. Whether reciting poetry or reciting scripture, grandpa Carroll always had a story to tell . . . and I'm glad that God has written him into my story as well.

My aunt Paula lives with three boys: Nathan, Jack, and her husband Matt.Nate and Jack are growing up to be great men. Ladies take note because these boys are keepers! My uncle Matt has been close to me since the day I was born. Mom always told me how I would take naps on Uncle Matt's chest before he and Paula were even married. Maybe Katie and I were the daughters he never had . . . maybe that's why he made sure I had a good supply of mace with me at ISU. Either way, Uncle Matt is someone that I know for sure I can always count on. He's smart and safe, and I will always trust him.

My uncle Kevin lives with five girls: Lauren, Vanessa, Joelle, Little Jilly, and my aunt VaLinda. When I think of my uncle Kevin, I always think back to the times when our families went on vacations together. He and dad would always play football on the beach while the cousins played together. It's obvious that my uncle Kevin knowns how to take care of women because he lives with five of them. He always makes me laugh, and I know that he manages his household in a godly way.

My Uncle Bret married my Aunt Jenni. I remember the first time Katie and I spent the night at their house. We had so much fun . Uncle Bret had double stuffed chocolate oreos and rented a movie for us to watch. Uncle Bret and Aunt Jenni have a great sense of humor. Bret can be quiet, but when he gets talkin' he always makes me grin. Recently, he took up running and is progressing in leaps and bounds. I think it's pretty cool that he's doing that and liking it. Uncle Bret is also a great, smart, hard-working guy who is really a big teddy bear inside. I'm glad Aunt Jenni chose him!

This is a really old picture of my Uncle Vince, but I like it because it reminds me of the kind of guy that he is. Vince is a family man- just like my dad and my grandpa. Even though he looks pretty tough on his "road hog," Uncle Vince is about as gentle as they come. I can't remember him raising his voice. Just like all the other heroes in my life, he understands hard work, and he never quits. Uncle Vince has also contributed to the musical legacy in my family. When you look at Vince and my father, you see two tough and gruff men. But when you hear the way Uncle Vince can make a piano come alive and blend his voice with my father's, your perception begins to change. These two men remind me of King David- a mighty warrior who was also a talented musician.

Two testaments to Uncle Vince's commitment to the Lord are his two sons. My cousin Josiah is Vince's oldest son and he reminds me a lot of his father ("The Strong Silent type"). For the first few years of high school, I did not understand this new Joby who rarely said a word as I was used to my childhood Joby who was so crazy and reckless. We would build forts and wrestle and terrorize poor Maria, but we always had a blast. I've met and envied friends who had girl cousins their age, but the older we become the more I realize that I would not have it any other way. I know I can always count on Joby and I pray he knows that he can always count on me. He will always be one of my heroes.

Last but not least is Vince's second son, my cousin Issac. Many who know him now know him as LCPL Imig, United States Marine. If you met him, you would not doubt that he was a true MAN. Strong arms, handsome face, impeccable manners, and a comforting gaze. But that's not necessarily why I call him a MAN of God. No, my reasoning is birthed in the lonely nights of him praying over me through the phone, of his comforting letters and text messages, of the way he hates sin and loves righteousness, of the way he gains the respect of his commanding officers, of the way he treats his girl (Mary), and the way he loves Jesus. Lance Corpral Imig, you are one of my heroes.

It has often been said "It takes a village to raise a child." In my opinion, you don't always need a village, and it does not stop with childhood. As the Lord continues to transform me from glory to glory, I see his hand constantly at work in my life through the people he has placed on my path. Although my mother and sister and countless others are irreplaceable, we must not forget to thank our men for being . . .well . . . men. In today's society we often discourage or even abhor their leadership. Dear brothers and sisters, this cannot be! Do we take their care and protection for granted? Sometimes you don't need an ENTIRE village to raise a child. Sometimes you just need time, love, and a Few Good Men.