Things I learned from Daddy

My dad is 83 and in the final chapter of his life on earth. I didn’t make it home to see him on Father’s day this year, but I was there a few days after. It didn’t really matter since he doesn’t know one day from another anymore, and it’s sad. Father’s day was the one day he had an excuse to brag about his 5 children, 15 grandchildren and 8 (and counting) great-grand children. He never waited for an excuse, but he always used Father’s day to its fullest. He is very proud of all of them.

After spending a week at his bedside watching for the brief and far-between twinkles of recognition in his eyes I am resolved to the truth that I will soon be separated from him for a while. It’s just one more reason to look forward to eternity. In the meantime I decided to collect some thoughts of things he taught me, either in word or by example (both good and bad).

• God sets the best example for good parenting.
• Loving kindness is an effective discipline technique.
• Parents need to be fully present with their family when they are home.
• Burping at the table is polite in some cultures, as is, drinking from your soup bowl.
• There is nothing more precious than a child’s smile.
• Women are beautiful.
• Take time to learn for yourself the things you are being taught.
• For every problem there is a solution.
• God takes care of his children.
• Everyone needs to hear the Gospel.
• The best way to serve God is to serve people.
• Use any ability or opportunity to share God’s love.
• You don’t have to be a preacher to change people’s lives.
• Churches can reach families by loving their children.
• Never sneak up on a man that is under the hood of a car.
• Cultural differences should be appreciated.

Of course there are all those little practical things Dad’s teach like how to change a tire, basic auto mechanics (my brothers got more of that than I did), how to handle tools and Boy Psychology 101. We were blessed with parents who believed in teaching their children as much of what they knew as they could. We didn’t always listen, we were typical kids, but a lot of it sunk in eventually. I just pray that when my kids are grown they will be able to look back and pull out some little pearls of wisdom they gained from my life, maybe even some of those I got from my parents; and I hope most of them are from my successes instead of my errors. Either way to God be the glory, because, like most parents, I am VERY human.