Ever since I became a father myself, I’ve been drawn to other’s stories and lessons form this wonderful life role. I’m not an avid follower of the NBA, but I watched all of the finals last year and was impressed with Dwyane Wade’s play – which I was seeing for the first time. Several months later, I saw this book at the library, and was curious what he had to say. I found Dwyane’s stories inspiring and thought-provoking, and I admire his strength through hardships and his willingness to share his struggles.

This book details his memories of growing up in Chicago, his rise through the ranks of basketball, his relationships with family, and his journey to becoming a father. I enjoyed his stories about his accomplishments on the court, and reading about the strength of his mother to overcome a drug addiction and today serve the Lord in ministry. He described the struggles he endured with his ex-wife in a custody battle, and why it means so much for him to be the full-time guardian of his two sons and nephew. This quote from the book sums it up well:

Fatherhood, to me, isn’t something you do for awards or acclaim. It’s a privilege and a huge responsibility. Of course, the recognition I’ve been given has been flattering— except I don’t think it makes sense to honor me for what I should be doing in the first place. That said, I do hope that by opening up in ways I haven’t in the past, I can encourage other fathers or father figures to get more involved with their kids’ lives.

In reading this book, I was again reminded how important the memories are that I create with my daughter. I learned some other ways to encourage and relate to my children, and I look forward to the wonderful journey of fatherhood ahead of me.

If you’re interested, read more of my public notes and excerpts.