VL-Issue 44- July 22

PHOTO BY 252BUZZ
I felt so inadequate at that moment to speak into their lives—I
hadn’t walked in their shoes, so how could my story possibly make a
difference to them? Besides, it just felt wrong to share how good my
parents were to me when others had been hurt so badly by theirs.
I felt God encouraging me, though, to lay aside my insecurities and
share my story as He led. He had brought me to speak behind prison
walls for a reason; it was time to trust Him with my story. God wanted
to use lessons from my water-ski career and stories about my parents’
sacrificial and unconditional love to paint a beautiful picture of His
love. For people who have been raised by harsh or absent fathers, it
is difficult to imagine God being any different, especially since we
call Him our heavenly Father.
I was reminded of this truth just the other day in our weekly Victorious
Living team online meeting. Out of 9 team members, 5 had
been abused, abandoned, rejected, and harshly disciplined by their
fathers. And as a result, they have often struggled with insecurities,
shame, unworthiness, anger, fear, distrust of authority, and a sense
of being unwanted. Each admitted it was challenging not to put the
face of their earthly fathers onto God. I was reminded of how blessed
I am to have a loving father.
I find myself sharing many stories about my dad’s wisdom or actions
when I’m speaking. That’s not because my mother’s influence in my
life is any less significant. My mother, Becky Overton, is a precious
jewel. Mom modeled the Proverbs 31 woman daily. She trusted the
Lord and worked diligently to care for my father, brother, and me.
For 15 years, she served as my daily water-ski coach and helped me
become a world champion.
It’s just that Daddy is way more vocal than Mom. And his incredibly
demonstrative, larger-than-life personality makes for some pretty
lively stories. God has used Daddy’s strong voice and actions to provide
me with direction, correction, and encouragement.
My father, Parker Overton, taught me how to live a Godhonoring
life. I must admit, I rolled my eyes at him a time or two, but
his one-liner lessons sure have stuck in my mind.
Some of these lessons include: Leave a place and thing better than
you found it. Say thank you. Share all you have with others. Be generous.
Notice your surroundings. Be a person of your word. When you
speak to people, look them in the eye. Make people feel important.
Give a firm handshake.
“Protect your reputation,” Daddy would say, “because it’s hard to get
it back once it’s gone.” I heard that one a lot. And you know, he’s still
teaching me even though I’m in my fifties! That’s what good fathers do.
I can’t go anywhere without his voice playing in my head. If I’m
in a parking lot, I’m alert because I remember, “a parking lot is a
dangerous place.” When I fly, I hear his voice prompting me to pay
attention to the flight attendant: “She deserves your respect, baby.”
Last week, I put down my phone to give the lady my utmost attention
even though I’ve flown hundreds of times and can quote the safety
instructions and mimic every hand gesture from memory.
I’m thankful my father cared enough to teach me how to honor God,
people, and places. And he didn’t just preach at me; Daddy practiced
what he preached. Day in and day out, he lived a life of integrity
Parker and Becky are great examples of service and faith to
their family. Pictured above with their son, Michael, daughterin-law
Holly, and Kristi after Parker received The Order of
the Long Leaf Pine Award, NC’s highest governor’s award for
persons making significant contributions to the state.
and excellence in public and private. “People are
watching you, baby,” he’d say. He didn’t realize that
I was watching him, and what I witnessed taught
me volumes.
For example, the way Daddy treated Mom showed
me how my husband should treat me. Even after
56 years of marriage, he continues to open her car
door, hold her hand, and speak well of her in front
DON’T PUT THE FACE OF
YOUR EARTHLY FATHER ON GOD.
of others. He truly loves her as God intends. Not a
day goes by that he doesn’t tell her how beautiful
she is and how her beauty would make “a tadpole
slap a whale,” “a bulldog break his chain,” and “a
momma cat leave her kittens.”
The way he treats his friends taught me to generously
share the blessings and opportunities God
provides me, whether or not someone can (or will)
return the gesture. Likewise, the way he treats his
employees taught me to honor those under my
authority. Daddy has always cared for those who
work for him, whether at his business or our family’s
property. He treats everyone like family.
And he is always at work behind the scenes trying
to make people’s lives better. Like when he arranged
for his dentist friend to give the girl at the Hardee’s
drive-through a new smile. He hadn’t forgotten his
own pain of having buckteeth as a child and how
he felt when he looked in the mirror or was taunted
by other kids.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 03 / 2022
27