About 3 weeks ago on a Sunday morning, I awoke early to these words running through my head: "Dad, you taught me." Those words were going through my head, over and over again. I began asking myself, why were these words running through my head non-stop and then I remembered Fathers Day was coming up. I began to think about my dad, and as those words were running through my head, I began to think about all of the things my dad has taught me throughout my life, both good and bad. I thought about the fact that my dad is getting older and that I didn't want to wait until he was gone to not only reflect on those things he has taught me, but to tell him how thankful and blessed I was to have him as my dad while he was still here.
So, as Father's Day approaches, I decided instead of sending my dad a Fathers Day card this year, I would write some of those things down and send him those in a letter
(it's already in the mail on it's way).
As you read, maybe something will stir in your heart about some of the things your dad has taught you over your life. And to remember to honor your father, as we are commanded (Exodus 20:12) and if you are a father yourself, to remember the kind of impact you are making with your children over a lifetime. I would also like to note that my dad was not the spiritual leader of our home. For most of my childhood and early adult years my dad was an alcoholic. However, my dad still went to church every Sunday. So, I knew that church was important to my dad and I did learn that from him, but that is not the way I would have preferred to learn about God from my dad. I would have preferred that my dad been more involved in teaching me about God and how to be a Godly man, but it didn't happen that way for me. Fortunately, I became born again at age 28 and by the grace of God my dad is now born again and been free from alcohol for over 20 years now. Even though my dad was not a spiritual leader in my life, I am still very thankful for all of the things my dad did teach me, qualities that I have developed only because of him.
Here are just a few of things from my letter to my dad:
Dad you taught me…how to enjoy the game of baseball, from learning how to throw and hit and to catch, to how to pitch and to understand the strategy of the game. You taught me how to pick a winning professional team who had a winning tradition. You also showed me the good and the bad side of coaching little league and that if it wasn’t for dealing with the parents, you would have really enjoyed teaching and coaching the kids. You taught me how to play hard, to shake off the mistakes and to get up and try harder. You taught me that you really cared about the kids on the team, whether they had a father at home to help them, and if they didn’t you made sure to make the extra effort with those who didn’t. And you even cared about the kids on the other teams and how their parents treated them while they were on the field, especially the ones who coached their own kids and yelled and screamed at them. You taught me that the parents should not be treating their kids that way in sports and then you showed me by your actions what the appropriate way was to treat your children when they were playing the game.
Dad you taught me how to ride a bike and how to change the chain when it came off the bike. You taught me how to handle tools as simple as a screwdriver to how to use a soldering iron. You taught me responsibility when I tried my first job running a paper route. Dad you taught me how to handle money and you taught me how to handle customers through the way you handled customers, with honesty and integrity. You taught me how to work hard by the way you worked hard.
Dad you taught me how to fish and how to bait a hook and to skin a fish. Dad you taught me the importance of spending time with family by taking me fishing. You also taught me the same thing by taking me golfing.
Dad you taught me how to garden, even though it was not my interest or passion, you showed me by your passion that to have a hobby you enjoy is important, especially a hobby that provides fresh vegetables.
Dad you taught me how to love listening to music because you loved listening to music.
Dad you taught me about televisions, electronics and appliances because you were in that business.
Dad you taught me how to run a lawnmower and how to mow the lawn.
Dad you taught me how to drive a car and how to take care of a car.
Dad you taught me your respect for your father and mother, by the time you spent with them, to respect my grand- parents and to treat them with honor and respect and to spend time with them. And by all of this, you showed me how important family is.
Dad you taught me how to have courage, strength and a never give up attitude by you winning the toughest battle of your life, by never giving up, as I watched you deal with alcoholism for years until you were finally able to defeat the enemy from within.
Dad you taught me how to care for your wife up to her final breath, with grace and love and dignity.
Dad you taught me how to be a “good man” by showing me what a “good man” should be and you told me about your father and how he was such a “good man” and I got to witness that in my Grandpa Paul and those experiences with you and Grandpa Paul made me want to be a “good man” too.
So, on this Father’s Day of June 16th, 2013, when I am about to turn 49 years old, I am sure that I could think of a number of other things that you taught me over my 49 years, but I wanted to tell you that a lot of the qualities of what you see in me were developed over the years because of you Dad. I am so blessed that God made you my Dad.
Here are just a few of things from my letter to my dad:
Dad you taught me…how to enjoy the game of baseball, from learning how to throw and hit and to catch, to how to pitch and to understand the strategy of the game. You taught me how to pick a winning professional team who had a winning tradition. You also showed me the good and the bad side of coaching little league and that if it wasn’t for dealing with the parents, you would have really enjoyed teaching and coaching the kids. You taught me how to play hard, to shake off the mistakes and to get up and try harder. You taught me that you really cared about the kids on the team, whether they had a father at home to help them, and if they didn’t you made sure to make the extra effort with those who didn’t. And you even cared about the kids on the other teams and how their parents treated them while they were on the field, especially the ones who coached their own kids and yelled and screamed at them. You taught me that the parents should not be treating their kids that way in sports and then you showed me by your actions what the appropriate way was to treat your children when they were playing the game.
Dad you taught me how to ride a bike and how to change the chain when it came off the bike. You taught me how to handle tools as simple as a screwdriver to how to use a soldering iron. You taught me responsibility when I tried my first job running a paper route. Dad you taught me how to handle money and you taught me how to handle customers through the way you handled customers, with honesty and integrity. You taught me how to work hard by the way you worked hard.
Dad you taught me how to fish and how to bait a hook and to skin a fish. Dad you taught me the importance of spending time with family by taking me fishing. You also taught me the same thing by taking me golfing.
Dad you taught me how to garden, even though it was not my interest or passion, you showed me by your passion that to have a hobby you enjoy is important, especially a hobby that provides fresh vegetables.
Dad you taught me how to love listening to music because you loved listening to music.
Dad you taught me about televisions, electronics and appliances because you were in that business.
Dad you taught me how to run a lawnmower and how to mow the lawn.
Dad you taught me how to drive a car and how to take care of a car.
Dad you taught me your respect for your father and mother, by the time you spent with them, to respect my grand- parents and to treat them with honor and respect and to spend time with them. And by all of this, you showed me how important family is.
Dad you taught me how to have courage, strength and a never give up attitude by you winning the toughest battle of your life, by never giving up, as I watched you deal with alcoholism for years until you were finally able to defeat the enemy from within.
Dad you taught me how to care for your wife up to her final breath, with grace and love and dignity.
Dad you taught me how to be a “good man” by showing me what a “good man” should be and you told me about your father and how he was such a “good man” and I got to witness that in my Grandpa Paul and those experiences with you and Grandpa Paul made me want to be a “good man” too.
So, on this Father’s Day of June 16th, 2013, when I am about to turn 49 years old, I am sure that I could think of a number of other things that you taught me over my 49 years, but I wanted to tell you that a lot of the qualities of what you see in me were developed over the years because of you Dad. I am so blessed that God made you my Dad.
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