On Sunday, while celebrating with my two little ones, I read a dozen or so wonderful Father’s Day tributes on the internet.
Many of you probably did the same. A couple were from famous men writing notes to their grandchildren. That afternoon I sat down and imagined what my father, who passed away in 1999, would have written to my son and daughter based on the life he lived.
Here, I am absolutely sure, are four lessons he would have penned.
- Love your spouse. Our living room, like many others from that time, was dominated by two overstuffed recliners and a couch. The recliners belonged to mom and dad. But in our house, the recliners didn’t sit on either side of the couch, offering room balance. Their seats were side-by-side. Better to hold hands.
- Believe. As an ordained minister, faith was central to my father’s life. His belief in God gave him a peace that often belied understanding. He argued that “faith is an understanding that some things can’t be understood.” He was solid.
- Dream Big. My father was constantly looking for a great invention, he even attempted to patent a couple. He taught his children to be always looking for a better way to do things.
- Ask questions…then LISTEN. He said it often. Too many people are so busy preparing their next statement that they never listen.
I can’t wait to share this list with my children – they’re now four and two years old.
Was there a lesson from your father that you’ve passed along?
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