A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. –Billy Graham

I’m gonna have to say I couldn’t agree more with Billy Graham’s thoughts about good dads. Pictured above with his pretty amazing wife and 5 children is a quiet hero, Doug Stine. As Father’s Day approaches this weekend, I find myself grateful for the courage and strength of many phenomenal men whose love and leadership make all the difference for others. Among those I most admire is this positive, reserved young dad with the quick smile and big heart.

A Missouri native and rabid St. Louis Cardinals fan, Doug Stine married into the O’Malia clan from Carmel, Indiana. He and his new bride, Colleen (O’Malia) Stine settled into their new home in the St. Louis area shortly after their glorious wedding. Unfortunately, it wasn’t many years after that when tragedy struck. His sister-in-law, Shannon, was lost in a terrible act of domestic violence that left two nephews without either parent, as their dad was lost too on that brutal day. What Doug did next is remarkably beautiful to me. He looked at his broken-hearted wife and he left his job, his parents, and his hometown with his then two babies, Ryan and Maddie, and he moved with Colleen back to her hometown back in the Hoosier state. When the entire extended family seemed to agree that the best thing for the boys would be to be taken in and loved up by Doug and Colleen, he and his wife adopted those amazing boys, Connor and Danny, who continued in their familiar school, surrounded by glorious love from family and community. The Stines went on to have one more gorgeous baby, who they named Shannon.

It doesn’t stop there, though. The soft-spoken Stine, who is a financial advisor at RBC Wealth Management, has embraced his big family with aplomb! With seemingly imperturbable self-possession, Doug confidently and kindly holds, lifts, and serves his family. He’s a rock in the middle of the whirlwind. Stine is faith-filled and his fingers are probably sticky from holding someone’s ring pop while they play in the dirt beside big brother’s baseball game as we speak. He wipes away tears of little ones like a boss, and he seems unflappable to the outsider looking in. He has helped coach the baseball teams of both Con, Danny and probably by now Ryan too? Our family has been the lucky recipient of some of Coach Stine’s time, as our Z-man has played on teams with both boys now.

Doug Stine, you are a stunning example of selfless love and deep integrity. The work of your hands might not always seem important to you and the community around you might sometimes be oblivious to your goodness, but there are few gifts more precious than the ones you are offering. The Lord sees you, and so do I! THANK YOU, for your amazing example of what fatherhood should look like when it’s done right. You are so inspiring to me! HAPPY FATHER’S DAY (in advance), DOUG!!

“The Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” (Dt. 16:15)