Lessons From Dad

Fathers have a great opportunity to influence their children.  I’ve learned a lot from my Dad over the years. He taught me how to throw a baseball, to shoot a basketball, to shave, to drive a stick shift, to swing a bat, to plant a garden, to mow the lawn, to change a light bulb and the list goes on.  I would not be the man I am today without his investment in my life.  I’d like to share three lessons my Dad taught me:

My Dad taught me to practice punctuality. As a sixteen-year-old, I was enjoying the freedom of driving my own car.  My Dad gave me a curfew of 11pm.  During my junior year of high school, I was hanging out with some friends, got carried away and lost track of time.  When I walked into the house at 11:03pm my Dad asked for the keys to my car.  I attempted to make a plea, but it was useless.  It may sound harsh to ground a teenager over three minutes, but it was one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned.  Punctuality is now one of my biggest pet peeves!

My Dad taught me to go to attend church services regularly.  It didn’t matter if I was sleeping over at a friend’s house, stayed up late playing video games or had a friend over at the house, my Dad (and Mom too!) was always there to make sure I went to church on Sundays and Wednesdays.  I learned the importance of attending a Bible believing church, fellowshipping with other believers, learning the Scriptures and drawing closer to Christ.  To this day, I go to church services every Sunday and Wednesday.

My Dad taught me to read the Bible daily.  For as long as I can remember, I witnessed my Dad read the Bible every day.  Seeing him read the Scriptures always made me ponder, “If he’s reading the Bible then it has to be God’s Word.”  Throughout my high school years of doubting the credibility of the Bible, God used my Dad’s faithfulness to later influence my decision of becoming a Christian.  Since the day of my salvation experience, it’s been my practice to meditate in the Scriptures daily.

With that in mind, I realize not everybody had the same upbringing.  There are many children who grew up without a father figure in their life.  Perhaps that’s why many young people turn to sexual immorality, drugs, alcohol, gangs and other things.  Hebrews 13:5 states, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:  for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”  The term forsake means to abandon.  Unfortunately, many fathers have abandoned their children.  The good news is God the Father promised to never leave or forsake His children.