A Tribute to my Father
Like many kids growing up I tended to be focused on the things that my father wasn’t that I have largely overlooked the things that he is and the great things he instilled in me.
Here a just a few things that my dad is:
1. My dad loves people and has taught me to do the same. My father is not a pastor or a touchy feely kind of guy but I have watched over the years time and time again where my dad would go out of his way to meet a need of a neighbor, an employee, or someone who was hurting.
My dad ran his own business for most of my growing up years and my brothers and I were personally involved for working for him. He always pushed people to work hard but also demonstrated servant leadership in that he would never ask someone to do something he wasn’t doing or willing to do. He cared for his employees and would try his best to meet their needs. His businesses goals never seemed to be how much money he could make but it was more about being a person that treated people fairly.
2. My dad taught me how to work hard. It’s very true that most of my growing up years I really didn’t appreciate this character attribute very much but I have seen through my life that this one character attribute (other than giving my life to Christ) has been the most responsible for any success that I’ve experienced. I remember my dad putting a little shovel in my hands as a little kid as I was planting little trees for his nursery and landscaping business. It was through a lot of experiences with landscape crews (which always had a few questionable characters) that I learned to lead, care for people, and work as a team. Those experiences and the example that my father provided me the foundation of who I am today.
3. My father is comfortable being who he was made to be. This is one character attribute that I did not get from my father. I’ve always admired it greatly and I’m growing in this area of my life but I have always marveled at regardless of the situation my dad is himself. It’s like he has a shield around him that protects him from what others think of him. He isn’t prideful in this but just REAL. His ability to be real always makes people comfortable around him and willing to be themselves too.
Thanks Dad
