“See! Listen to your Dad!”
June 19, 2022
My Dad almost always knows the right thing to do in any given situation. His “being right” average is so high, that I tease my Mom that she may have married “Mr. Right”, but she didn’t know his first name was “Always”.
Even though I know my Dad’s track record of almost always knowing the right thing to do, I am not always eager to listen to his instruction. Sometimes, I want to do things my way, and maybe prove I can be as right as my Dad. However, it usually pays off for me to listen to my Dad’s instructions because the end result is success!
I have had my share of experiences with my Dad which solidified his “being right” percentage. Since his hands are not as steady as they once were, I, on occasion, become his hands– like the day the burned out surface light under the microwave needed to be replaced so we could see the stove better. I’ll spare you the details of how rare this bulb is, and how only one supply store three towns over even stocked the bulb, which given its price, must contain a gold filament or something. However, that challenge paled in comparison to opening up the surface light compartment, removing the burned out bulb, and replacing it by using the smallest screws and a Phillips-head screwdriver (thank you Henry Phillips).
Did I mention this light was above the stove? Well, it was, and the chances of dropping the screws into the great abyss of the stove was as high as my Dad’s “being right” percentage! Oh, and did I also mention that even seeing the surface light compartment required the ability to spin my head like R2D2? Well, many were the instructions my Dad gave throughout the process. “Lay a towel over the burners in case the screws fall! Hold the screwdriver straight! Turn your head upside down so you can see what you’re doing!” And the last instruction, when the mission was successfully completed, “See! Listen to your Dad!”
Speaking of bulbs, there was the time I planted a few lilac bulbs for my Dad. Again, I became his hands and felt pretty confident about my bulb planting abilities, especially with my bulb planting shovel with the depth demarcations clearly indicated. Regardless, my dad showed up at the work site and supervised the planting. “After all,” he said, “if you’re going to do this, you want to do it the right way.” Sure enough the instructions came. “Plant them here! Dig deeper! Pat the dirt firmly!” And once again, when the mission was successfully completed, and a year later the lilacs bloomed, my dad said, “See! Listen to your Dad!”
In chapter one of the Book of Proverbs, a father speaks to his son, encouraging him to receive the wisdom of his parents. It is often the nature of the young to be slow to receive the wisdom of their older generation. It is also the nature of the not-so-young to be slow to receive the wisdom of their parents.
8Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. (Proverbs 1:8-9)
The instruction and teaching given from parent to child will adorn the life of their children, if the children will only receive it. Like a crown on their head, or chains about their neck, such wisdom will be a reward to a younger generation.
I’m thankful my mom married “Mr. Always Right”, and I’m grateful God gave me such a wise earthly father. His guidance and instruction have led me, more often than not, in the right paths.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!