FATHER’s Tie would like you to meet Brad Keen. Brad is a father of 3 boys and is a Pilot in the United States Air Force; who is currently deployed to a classified location. Mr. Keen is 33 years old and is engaged.
If you were to meet Brad today, you would know, almost instantly, that he loves his boys. I respect that about him. He may not have full custody of them, but his heart and life reveal a devotion to them that you don’t see in many men. We could all learn a lot about FATHERing from him. Please help me honor BRAD KEEN.
What is your favorite story about you FATHERing? Why?
I was driving around with my sons and I asked them if I had ever done anything to hurt them or made a promise that I didn’t keep. After thinking for a minute, my seven year old fired off a few promises that I had made to go get ice cream that apparently I didn’t follow through on. After making sure that was all, I told them that I was sorry for breaking my promise. I assured them that there would be more times I messed up but they could come to me and tell me if I hurt them and I would always strive to make it right. Then… my 7 year old, hearing the sincerity in my voice, cheerfully said, “don’t worry daddy, you’ve only made those two mistakes, I’m sure other dads have made thousands!”
Do you have any hidden talents?
Filling out questionnaires on myself.
Name two things you consider yourself to be very good at as a FATHER: having genuine fun together with my sons. Taking biblical concepts and interweaving the principles of those concepts into daily conversation
Name two things you consider yourself needing to improve at as a FATHER: I’m very bad with keeping schedules straight… who has soccer when and play practice where… I don’t know? And Sometimes, I get flustered by clutter in the house and can’t just enjoy the time with my boys.
Name one thing that NOT many people know about you: I play guitar and write music.
What is your earliest memory? My dad coming home from work with a brand new red bike in the back of his Datsun pickup. I had been riding hand me downs from my cousin up until then.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A pilot.
If you could have any SUPERPOWER, what would it be? Mind reading.
Who is the most important person in your life? My boys!
What are you passionate about?
Helping people who feel alone in their circumstances realize that they are not alone and there are others who have been right where they are.
Who is the person you respect the most, and why? My dad, always sacrificial!
What outdoor activities do you like to do? Fishing, riding 4 wheelers
If your HOUSE was on fire and you could grab only 3 things before leaving, what would they be?
Gavin, Ethan and Urban (my boys.)
What is your goal in life? Do you think you will achieve it? To be a patriarch in/for my family. Maybe…
What is the craziest thing you have ever done? I dove off a water tower into a city “lake” in Sparks, OK in the middle of the night… not too smart!
A note from James: FATHERhood is more than contributing to the conception of a child or being in the home on a daily basis; Brad, your sense of FATHERhood is strong! “One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.” Anonymous
