WHAT DAD TAUGHT ME

   

  Dad & His 3 Sons

Although dad was a quiet man who did not talk much, there were things he taught me that still guide my life today.  As the oldest child in a family of six, at times I acquired a bossy, know-it-all attitude towards my younger siblings.  One such day, I had called my sister Carol “stupid”.  Little did I know Dad was standing nearby and had heard my rude remark.  He immediately rebuked me for making such an unkind statement, and told me in no uncertain terms that there was no such thing as a stupid person.  To this day, I never call anyone “stupid”.

            Dad taught me patience.  When helping me with a difficult math problem, he never got upset if I was slow to understand.

            Dad taught me to be loving and affectionate.  He always would give each of us a kiss and a hug every night before we went to bed, even when we visited him as adults.

            Dad taught me to tell the truth by disciplining me when I told him a lie.  He taught me responsibility and rewarded me with a whooping 25-cent salary (a lot of money to an 8-year old) each week if I did my chores.

            One of the biggest things Dad taught me I learned as a teenager.  Dad had taken me to get my driver’s license.  To my horror, I flunked the driving test.  As I sat in the car with tears streaming down my face, Dad hugged me and told me that “all successes come through failure”.  He encouraged me to keep trying.  One of his favorite sayings was “Nothing ventured, nothing gained”.  A few months later, I took the test again and succeeded in getting my driver’s license.  What a victory for an 18-year-old.  I never forgot that lesson. 

         And as I look back through the years, I’ve seen that same leasson replayed over and over again in my life. Whether I succeeded or failed, Dad still loved me and believed in me.  Dad is gone now, but I’m so thankful I have a Heavenly Father who loves me through my successes and failures.  He encourages me to keep trying and to pick myself up when I fall short.  His grace is sufficient for me.