Last week a young dad was leaving his office for the night, a Christian recording studio business in Garland, Texas.

Shortly after midnight, he phoned his wife to let her know he was finished and on the way home. As he and his best friend left the building, they were shot in the parking lot and their cars were stolen.

28-year-old Matthew Butler never made it home that night.

He left behind his wife, his 2-year-old son, and his 1-year-old daughter.

What a horrible tragedy for this family.

My eyes swell with tears as I type this, knowing that Matthew’s young children will never know their dad on this side of eternity, except through their mom’s stories, photos, homemade videos, and their dad’s work — his music.

It is a painful reminder of how we dads need to live in the now with our family — not in fear — but because of our immense role in their lives, and how fragile life really is.

What are we doing as dads to create lasting memories in our children’s lives? How will they remember us if our lives on earth end prematurely? What are we teaching them? What will be their “take away” from us after we are gone?

FamilyDads will be sending a financial gift to help support Matthew’s wife Jamie and his two children Matthew Jr and McKayla. If you would like to add a contribution as a fellow FamilyDad so that we can send one large check, send your gift by paypal to familydads@gmail.com

or if you want to write a check (made payable to FamilyDads with “Matthew Butler Family” in memo section), send to:
FamilyDads
c/o Joey Watkins
2135 Chadwick Dr
Cumming, GA  30028

This tragic story was covered by the Dallas Morning News and Fox News.