Lessons I Learned from Daddy
…He being dead yet speaketh. Hebrews 11:4b
My dad was a remarkable man. Born and raised in Grenada WI. He moved to London in the early sixties. His spirit of adventure and his commitment to work hard took him a long way. Although he separated from my mom when I was very young, he taught me some of life’s greatest lessons.
In my teenage years he showed me how to check the oil in our Hillman, how to change a tire, and even how to jumpstart the car. I watched him paint, wallpaper and lay tile he could figure out how to do just about anything.
He was not perfect and made some bad mistakes, but he taught me more than just how to do things as he modelled patience, compassion and unconditional love. His weird sense of humour kept us laughing even in the hard times.
The lessons I remember most from my dad were these:
· Always keep your promises, do what you say.
· Work hard and be proud of what you do.
· A good imagination is one of life’s greatest gifts. Use it often and wisely.
· When faced with a problem, don’t say, “It can’t be done.” Get busy and figure out a way to do it!
· Don’t give up! You’ll succeed if you just keep trying.
· One day he told me you don’t have to preach to teach people about the love of God.
Just a couple years ago I stood staring at his grave. It seems impossible that he’s been gone 5 years, because he is still so very much a part of my life. My brother, sisters and I were truly blessed. We will always be grateful that we had a father who cared, who was sensitive to our needs, and who left us with lessons to guide us through life. Dads, what will your kids think when they stand looking at your gravestone?
Fathers Pray With Me
Father, thank you for giving me an earthly father who reflected your love and compassion. Thank you for the lessons he lived and left. I confess that I need you to help me leave a lasting legacy. I ask for your help to be a better father. I’ve tried to do it on my own. I know that your ways are higher. Your ways are better. Lead me and guide me as I daily surrender to you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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