Things My Father Taught Me

I had my Dad for 25 years and some months before God saw fit to take him to heaven. It's where he wanted to go for as long as I can remember, so I don't exactly begrudge him the trip. Some have had their father's longer, yes, but some have had him for far fewer days than I did. But if I can be certain of anything, it is this: it is not the quantity of days that I shared with him that counts. It is the quality of those days that really matter.

Dad and I had lots of good times. To be honest, we had some not so good times too. But for the most part we had good times. I wouldn't say we had alot in common, but there was a common bond of love, and later of friendship and discipleship. We didn't share the same interests, but the things we did share were invaluable. We didn't always think the same way; we didn't always agree or see eye to eye. But we had the same heart for the things that truly mattered. Dad taught me alot about life and living and love and the Lord, and in celebration of Father's Day, I thought I would recall some of the things my Dad taught me.

Dad taught me

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  how to swim--by throwing me in. (thank God for floaties!)


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  how to ride a bike--even though I crashed my first time out.


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  how to change a tire--but not where the key was to the hubcap.


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  how to drive--starting when I was 11.


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  how to parallel park--I failed that part of the driving test, but can do it good today.


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  how to drive a stick-shift--even though I stalled multiple times on my date that night.


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  how to play chess and monopoly and 42--how to be thrilled with winning, and when you lose, how to be thrilled with playing.


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  the difference between right and wrong--that one brings rewards (usually eternal) and the other brings consequences (usually immediately, like a spanking)


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  my need for Jesus Christ as a personal savior--the single most important thing I learned.


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  how to pray--at all times in lots of different ways


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  how to read the Bible, how to enjoy its words and receive life from their meaning.


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  how to preach--not by instruction, but by example (and sometimes what not to say.)

There are lessons I wish I had learned from my Dad, things I wish he could teach me now. But God is gracious, and I have so much to be thankful for in having had such a man of God as my Dad.