Husband, Father, Servant
By Governor Kristi Noem
Moms tend to notice things that don’t get done. I’ll admit it. I’m guilty. I can drive in the driveway and see that the yard needs to be mowed. I’ll walk in the house and see the pile of shoes by the door or the laundry that needs to be folded. We women tend to be multi-taskers, only able to relax when everything is put away, kids are clean, and animals fed. And if we are tired or overwhelmed, you will hear us say “Honey will you???”
At our house, Bryon completes many of our chores. I am gone a lot, and he is left to handle all things related to kids, ranch, and house. I know that I am blessed to have a husband who recognizes how wonderful it is for me to come back to a clean house and tended family, and he tries to make that happen. But over the years, what has made me love him more each day is the way he loves our kids.
You see, I married Bryon because I loved him and wanted to build a life with him, but at the time I really had no idea what kind of a father he would be. I had a sneaking suspicion he would be a great dad because he has a wonderful father who is a great role model. Bryon loves the Lord and understands the responsibility that God gives to men to lead their families. As the years went by and the kids were born, his actions revealed to me how he viewed fatherhood. He served.
He gave Kassidy her first bath. In fact, my mom came to stay with us a few days after she was born and after a few hours she came to me and said, “I might as well go home. Bryon won’t let me do anything.”
When Kennedy was a baby, she had reflux so bad, everyone was reluctant to hold her because of the spit up bath she was sure to give them. But her dad held her constantly and thought it was “cute.”
Booker was such a sick little boy with so many breathing problems he needed multiple inhalers, medications, and constant trips to the hospital. Bryon prayed over him every night, asking God to heal our little boy.
When you look at our family home videos, you will find they were all taken by Bryon. I’m not sure it ever occurred to me to document those busy years. Yet there are hours and hours of video of the kids playing, talking, and sometimes just watching TV! It is almost as if he knew how special those moments were and wanted to save them for me to enjoy when I decided to slow down enough to appreciate them.
Earlier this month, Bryon walked Kassidy down the aisle and prayed over her as she began her new life with our new son-in-law, Kyle. We’re so proud of the strong, smart, and kind woman Kassidy has become, and I’m so glad she picked someone to marry who has a heart of service like her dad.
Father’s Day is the perfect opportunity for me to stop for a moment and express to him how grateful I am that our children have such an incredible father. It’s a reminder to me of how blessed I am. I know I’ve said these things before, but they’re worth saying again. Bryon is a partner in all I do and a helpmate through peaceful and busy times. He’s not perfect, but he’s perfect for me. I thank God for the father he gave to Kassidy, Kennedy and Booker.
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A very nice tribute on this special day. The things said here is what being a dad is all about putting your family first.