WHAT DAD TAUGHT ME

Interesting.  For some reason Father’s day slipped my mind today until the Priest at mass wished all the fathers a happy day.  During the readings today two of them were about forgiveness, and the sermon was based on the question “what did your father teach you?”. 

I never really given a lot of thought to what dad taught me, probably because it wasn't any one stand out statement or principle.  It was more an example of a life lived to the best of his ability with mistakes, corrections, wins and losses, rights and wrongs.  It wasn't until asked that specific question that I gave it any introspection at all.  That question has been begging me for an answer all day today.  I am my father’s son and as such my answer may go on and on.  I hope that as time goes on he and I will become more and more alike.

I am not that man you knew yesterday,

Each day is added onto the ones before

If it were not for that man of yesterday

Touching my life in his own unique way

I would not be who I am

Perhaps,

Tomorrow I will be better.

arbee

I learned from dad, not so much from his words, but from a continuation of who he was and the way he lived his own life.  Don’t get me wrong there were certain things that he got specific on but somehow it was the osmosis that taught me the most. 

One of the first things dad was very emphatic about was being honest and not to lie. His first real means of teaching me that in earnest came when I was in the first grade.  I learned more than just that simple rule.  I had traded one of my neighbor boys something he wanted for his knife which I wanted.  This boy lived about a mile or so from the farm we were living on at the time.  When dad saw the knife he asked me where I had gotten it and I told him that Dennis had given it to me.  Dad didn't believe me.  He made me walk back down that road, give Dennis back the knife, and then I had to walk back home.  That three mile walk taught me a lesson.  Lies are a bad thing and that sometimes truth doesn't matter if someone is convinced that you are not truthful.  Maybe it wasn't the best way to be taught that honesty is important but it worked.  It was a very long time before I lied about anything.

Like most kids I looked up to my dad.  I loved and feared him at the same time and I don’t think I ever gave up on wanting him to be proud of me.  There are so many instances of errors in his way of relating to me during our life that it’s a miracle how we ended up.  I think the things learned from our relationship were a lot more important than a list of do’s and don’ts.  By the time dad left us to join his Heavenly Father he and I were able to express our love for one another and really mean it.  Dad became one of my best friends in this life and one of my strongest advocates.   

Some things Dad taught me:

No one is right all the time; Everyone can make mistakes; Don’t be afraid to be honest; Don’t be afraid to admit you are mistaken or wrong; It is possible to change and become a better person; Love is more important than anger; Accept sincere apologies; Apologize when you have wronged someone; Always do your best no matter what the task or circumstance; Everyone fails at least once, strength is shown when you fail and try again.