Thread: What are some of the positive life lessons you learn from your father?
Admin
What are some of the positive life lessons you learn from your father?
Posted : 29 Dec, 2010 03:21 PM
I learned from my father the value of getting along with people, in general, no matter who they were, as much as they allowed you to do so ... we all have times when our differences of opinion and/or nature make this more difficult, but my father taught me through observing how he did it, that it is better to get along than not get along with those you disagree with ... to simply, as they say, "agree to disagree" and not "make mountains out of molehills." My Dad had his share of prejustices, I learned too, like a lot of people from his generation seemed to have developed, but he made the effort to keep these in check and to a minimum, for which I was grateful.
Another positive life lesson I learned from my father through observing his example was how to be a loving and caring husband to your wife for a lifetime, even when she was being hard to get along with, like my Mom could be with her sometimes quick temper and opinonated thinking (in high school, my Mom loved being on the debate team!!!). My Mom tended to get "uptight" about situations and events more, while my Dad was more "laid-back" about everything. I'm more like my Dad in being "laid-back", but, I suppose like everyone, some situations and events can get me "uptight" too, but when this does happen, I know I have to be careful how "uptight" I become and stay, because, like my Mom, I have a degree of hypertension, physically, now too to take care of ("mild hypertension", for which I take a pill to help properly control twice a day).
What are some of the positive life lessons you learn from your father?
Posted : 29 Dec, 2010 11:39 PM
Well, in 24 years my dad has crammed more wisdom and lessons into me than I know to repeat. I'll try to hit the big ones, and I'll try to stay away from the almighty wall of text.
First off, my dad taught me that education is everything. This is coming from a man who served as a Green Beret for 22 years, a detective, a police officer, a mechanic, and a plethora of other jobs I could only hope to count. He taught me from the get go that without a good education, I would be stuck with dead end job after dead end job. I thank him for that to this day.
The next thing my dad taught me was the value of hard work and dedication. I've yet to meet a person whose work ethic could even begin to compare to my dad. This man is 71, working at the Commissary on base bagging groceries just to keep active. He doesn't need the money, and he sure doesn't need all the physical stress, but man he sure loves making those high schoolers work harder than they ever had and still not keep up with him. To this day, he's the only sparring partner I've had that I didn't beat too.
My dad also taught me to always do what is right, just, and pleasing to God. I was raised on biblical teaching from the time I was 4 years old. I didn't get the cliche "would Jesus do that?" talks. No, I'd get "this is where you're wrong. This, this, this, and this. Correct yourself." But I will say this, he always made sure I was squared away.
Prioritization is another big thing for my dad. My family was not well off when I was younger, but my dad made sure we never missed a meal, and we never went without something we needed. I know he did this at great sacrifice to himself sometimes, and I know I'll never know just how much he sacrificed until I'm in the same position. He also made sure we were taken care of, granted we didn't get all the random toys and useless junk we wanted as children, but we never missed something we needed.
My father also made sure I was always taken care of. He would constantly ask me about my car. Did I check the oil? When's the last time I rotated my tires? I know now he didn't do this to harass me and make me feel stupid. He knew one day I'd have to do this stuff for myself, and these are things that require a rhythm, as they occur regularly. Which reminds me, I need to change my oil tomorrow. Thanks for teaching me that too, dad.
He also taught me how to fix just about anything I could get my hands on. I'm not as automotive proficient, but I get it back in computers. Everything in between is fair game, whether it's painting a room, dry walling, knocking down a wall, or rewiring a house. I'm thankful he taught me this.
Most of all, I thank my dad for teaching me how to laugh. Laughter is my method for coping with stress, and I'm glad for that. I feel if you can't laugh and enjoy life, what's the point of living it? Without the quality of life, it's a shameful existence. You exist simply to exist. How much more greedy do you get? Take that extra minute or two to brighten someone's life a little each day, and DON'T take the easy way out of picking the same person each day... slacker.
There's so much more he taught me, but I think this is a good start.
What are some of the positive life lessons you learn from your father?
Posted : 30 Dec, 2010 07:19 AM
Thanks for sharing about some of the many positive life lessons your Dad taught you, Jaywar ... his example to you is an inspiration for every father in the raising of their sons and daughters.
Please keep the positive life lessons you've learned coming, guys and gals.
What are some of the positive life lessons you learn from your father?
Posted : 4 Jan, 2011 05:24 PM
None.
I pay for that now enough. I've had to look to father figures my whole Christian life and watch from afar godly men who were mentoring and father figures that were true examples. I think I've turned out fairly well and my church, ministry partners, friends and family would say so, but only by the grace of God as He urged me on to leave childish things and become a man.
My father gave me nothing. I love him and forgave him and we get along today. But he has left me nothing. Story of my life ..
