FOUR THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY DAD

Por Andrea Guachalla

I’ve been staring at my computer screen for a while, trying to figure out what to write about. A couple of topics come to my mind from what I had planned weeks ago, but nothing really seems as fitting as writing about who was once my dad.

As it’s often the case for many people, I didn’t have a traditional upbringing. I was born in a nominal-Christian family where the Gospel had no place of being. So, far from having a perfect-Christian family, I had a very dysfunctional one while growing up.

My father, though a self-proclaimed Christian, was sadly far from being one who fulfilled his God-given roles. And as expected, that had a long-lasting impact. As I reflect back on what his life was and how it ended, I can acknowledge he had a rough life. Abundant materially, but submerged in spiritual darkness.

I agree with one of my sisters who once said: “he gave us the best he had”. Which wasn’t much. And though his wrong-doings cannot be justified, the fact is that God in his mercy gave me a father who, amidst all the chaos, taught me a few things that I treasure deep in my heart.

1. Being punctual

My father always arrived on time everywhere and anywhere.

And when I mean “on time”, I don’t just mean arriving at the exact time he was supposed to. No… He would arrive at least 30 minutes earlier if not 45. And regardless of who he was meeting up with, he would give everybody the same treatment.

I am not as committed with punctuality as him, for sure. But respecting people’s schedules and committing to fulfill my promises in this regard is something I admired from him, and something I strive to. 

2. Praying

“Thank you Lord for this day…” That is how my father would always start any prayer, thanking God for another day that he allowed us to live. And he would do so before every single meal without fail (at least from what I remember). And this is how the prayer always ended: “In the name of Jesus, amen.”

So that is how I start my days, thanking God for a brand new day, and all my petitions and thankfulness go to God in the name of Jesus, my Savior, because that is how my father taught me to pray.

3. Loving and enjoying music

My father and I didn’t have much in common, but one thing we both loved was music. 

From a young age he tried to cultivate in me (and my siblings) a taste for good music. So B. B. King, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, and worship music he liked would often be streaming on the radio as I grew up. Whenever he joined a family gathering he would ask for a guitar and play some tunes while we were talking. 

Nowadays it’s not him who goes around playing the guitar, but me and some of my siblings who find joy in spending time playing songs he liked, and songs he would have (probably) disliked.

Friends often remark that I have good taste in music. And that I owe it almost entirely to him.

4. Persevering in what I love

No matter how little others believed in him, or how little support he got regarding projects he was passionate about, he would work hard anyways.

When he was working as a doctor, a deep interest in helping people with different disabilities grew within him. And despite there being a lack of literary and material resources to work in this field, he would encourage people in his workplace to work alongside him. It was his life-long project to open a facility and implement a program that would actually help patients. 

I don’t think he ever received much support despite him giving talks, and presenting projects to hospital boards, but he didn’t give up and kept working, he persevered. He was convinced his dream was worth fighting for, and that kept him going despite the lack of interest from others. 

By his example I learned that things are not always ideal and comfortable, people don’t always support you in your endeavors, but if you’re sure what you’re doing is good you should always keep going. 

I remember my father, and all I can say is “I’m thankful”. 

I’m thankful for the things I learned from him, but as strange as it sounds I’m also thankful for his lackings because those helped me see God is gracious, and that He is in absolute control of EVERYTHING that comes to pass.

I am sure many of you can resonate with how difficult life can be with an absent father, or one who hurts you. But I encourage you to take Philippians 4:8 to heart and decide to see the good in the father God gave you. Looking for the bad things is easy, I’m sure you can list a hundred defects that you see in your parents, but that is not honoring to God nor your parents.

Look for the good things, the things that are worthy of praise, no matter how hard it is to find them. And then thank God, thank your father, honor him despite his lackings. Honoring your earthly parents, is honoring your Heavenly Father.