Today is my Dad's 88th birthday. I have been thinking of some of the things I learned from him.
1. Be on time. We were never late for anything, and it really bugs me to wait for other people or be sitting in church and the same people always come in late. Now I am an attendance clerk at the grade school down the street and have little patience for late students.
2. Make do with what you have. Dad was always taking old things and making something new out of it. Like our old TV cabinet, he made a chest of drawer out of it. In Wellton, he took some old poles and made a beautiful grape-stake fence. Our patio was made from some old brick he found. Now I am making jean quilts out of old blue jeans and finding great satisfaction in making do with what I have.
3. Take care of your animals and treat them like a member of the family. Dad loved his dogs and they loved him. There is nothing like having your dog curl up at your feet on a cold night.
4. If your are lost out in the desert, look for power lines and they will lead you to civilization. That may seem to be not really important, but I think Dad was telling me to always look for the source of the power in everything and I would find my way, in my schoolwork, in my everyday problems and in finding my testimony. I have always remembered riding in his gas truck and looking for the power lines.
5. To be charitable. Dad was always helping someone who was less fortunate than we were. He brought some home to sleep in the room out back. If someone ran out of gas out on the highway he would stop and give them a couple gallons of gas off of his truck. If someone came to the plant and ask for money, he would go to the store and buy him some groceries. Now as I watch what is going on in this country I realize I need to be more charitable to those that are less fortunate
than I.6. Here are a few JT'isms
If your feet smell and nose runs, you were built upside down.
If you were standing in the way of him trying to watch TV, you have been drinking muddy water.
One finger means pass the milk, two fingers means pass the bread.
7. Forgiveness is possible. He finally forgave Jan for shaking the french dressing without a cap and throwing it all over his freshly painted kitchen wall.
8. Work until the job is done. Dad worked long hours providing for his family. We always waited until Dad got home to eat dinner, but we always ate together as a family even late some times. But we knew that there was a farmer who could not do his work unless he had the gas to do it, and that was Dad's responsibility.
9. If you accept a calling from the Lord magnify your calling. If it includes going to meetings you better be there, even if the meetings are 30 miles away. Dad and Mom always gave 100%+ to their callings.
10. Love the Lord. I know that my Dad has a testimony and it has never wavered from the day that he was baptized. He has an amazing ability to remember scriptures and a knowledge of gospel principles that I have relied on many times. I am now trying to fill my own lantern with oil.
Happy Birthday Dad, thank you for the lessons.
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