Lessons From My Dad

Here are the remarks that I shared at my Dad’s funeral on October 25th.

My Dad did things right. If he took on a job, he did it right. He would give attention to detail and put in the time required to complete the task to the very best of his ability. That is the way he mowed his yard, maintained his car, responded to his employer, and performed the many volunteer roles he assumed.

His devotion to those tasks reminds me of Colossians 3:23 which says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”

Whatever we do and how we do it represents who we are, and ultimately, whose we are. Little things and ordinary things, illuminate our character and reflect on our creator who does all things well.

The old saying that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing well still holds true today.

But the reality is as we get older, there are fewer and fewer things that we can control and we have no choice but to become more dependent upon others. That’s why those few mundane things about our day-to-day life become so important so important to us as we age.

While it is important to to do things to the best of our ability, it is also important not to sweat the small stuff.

So, the question for all of us becomes what are the things that are of lasting importance. What are the things we should do and do well? You will have to answer that for yourself, but I will suggest that it begins with relationships.

We can have many wonderful experiences in life, we can accomplish many achievements, and we can surround ourselves with all manner of things that make us comfortable. But when people get down to the end of their lives those things pale in comparison to the importance of a few precious family members and friends and knowing that we are at peace with God.

I love the man who called his grandkids his little monkeys and pretended to throw their noses away. I love the man who enjoyed the beauty of order. I love the man who helped me paint his town home and clean up my yard when he visited. I love the man who had a sense of wonder and explored this amazing country. I love the man who once told me, “Glenn, women have a different way of doing things.”

But my favorite memory of my Dad goes way back to when I was just a little boy, probably about six. Sometimes in the evening when I was allowed to stay up late on a Saturday evening he and Mom would horse around wrestling on the couch or the bed and I would jump in the middle of it all. Usually, he was pretending to pick on Mom and I would come to her rescue.

I was so wild and crazy as I jumped into the middle of the ruckus that my parents said I was like a banty rooster, which is a small aggressive chicken. Now you know my childhood nickname. Those times of bonding together were a little thing, but they were also an important thing.

So these are the lessons that I am learning from my Dad’s life, do things to best of my ability, don’t sweat the small stuff, and focus on what really matters.