Qualities of a Father

This past father’s day I wrote a few stories from my life about the qualities of father’s. I have recently relocated these stories and thought I would share them. So happy father’s day…

PATIENT

Ben, the youngest child of six, was constantly teased and this made him very angry. When he would get hurt or teased he would scream and get into a rage. One day, upon seeing this rage, his father took him aside. He asked his son, “Ben, does screaming and getting angry stop the pain?” The young child shrugged and admitted it did not. His father then explained that if would be a better choice upon getting hurt or teased to stop and count to 10. After taking this time to breathe and get control, then it is appropriate to deal with the situation. Ben found that after trying this he was no longer angry and as able to deal with his life in a happier and more satisfying way. His father, with loving patients, had taught Ben a lesson that would stay with him and help shape him into a great man.

FAITH

For one of our family trips we had the opportunity to visit Palmyra, the home of the young Joseph Smith. While walking through the sacred grove Ben stopped me, looked me straight in the eyes and bore his testimony of the restoration of the gospel. I had known he had a testimony but having him testify and proclaim of these truths strengthened that knowledge and strengthened my testimony through his faith.


When I went to high school I attended seminary in a building far from my school. Every morning my father would wake me up and rive me to seminary. While I was in class trying to stay awake, my father was out in the car studying his scriptures. There were countless times in which I left seminary to find my Dad so immersed in his studies that he had lost track of time. Seeing my father’s dedication to the scriptures and to his studies showed me how important it was. I began trying to get more out of seminary and to study more diligently. I am one of six children and we each graduated from seminary becayse of the dedication of our father.

LOVE

Larry is a great man but he has one flaw, he faints at the sight of blood. Loose teeth, scrapped knees or small pin pricks made him queasy and sick. One afternoon he walked to the park with his three youngest children. Soon after they arrived his youngest son, Michael, fell off the jungle gym and cracked his chin open. There was blood everywhere, mixed with gravel and tears. Larry picked up his son, and without any cloth to stop the bleeding, rested his son’s oozing chin on his shoulder to apply pressure and started to quickly make the two block walk home. The other children ran ahead to get their mother and get some first aid help. By the time Larry arrived at the home with Michael his shirt was covered in his young son’s blood and the child was soothed. Although it was very difficult for Larry to do this small task of carrying his son home it showed that he loved his children. He got over his own fears and insecurities to save/help his child.

FRIEND

My father made time to play with us and be with us. I remember countless hikes, softball practices, game nights, ect in which he was there with us. I also remember driving with him to the grocery store, just so we could talk; Getting into deep conversations about music, movies and books. This time that my father spent just being with me, getting to know my likes and dislikes and making himself available to talk created a great friendship and bond. I knew that if I ever needed him, he would not hesitate to drop everything and be there to help. I knew that if I ever needed to talk, even if it was about something bar or hard, that he would be an open listener. I knew that he would always be there to be my friend.

PRIESTHOOD DUTY

Melvin Stones was an inactive member and very rough around the edges. He drank, smoked and cursed like a sailor. Melvin had 7 children and the oldest two boys, Mike and Larry, were about to turn 12 and wanted to go to church for scouting and to get the Priesthood. Melvin took his two boys into a room, sat them down and explained to them the importance of the Priesthood. He told them that having the Priesthood was a very serious and great responsibility and that if they were going to make this decision and do this great thing that they needed to be dedicated. Although Melvin did not attend church he knew and remembered the importance of the Priesthood in his life and in the home. Mike soon got the priesthood and Larry began to attend church to receive it. Larry said that he went to church faithfully everyday since that talk with his father ad tried to learn and study the gospel as mush as possible so that he could live up to the responsibility his father explained.

CARING

Ron has a very rough exterior; he grunts for replies and keeps to himself. One day, soon after we moved in with Ron, he commented on the ragged and tattered look of my Sunday shoes. He said that they were not appropriate for church and that I should not wear them again. I felt slightly ashamed and tried to think of a way to afford a new pair of shoes. The next day Ron woke me up and told me the needed me to go somewhere with him. He took me to the store and walked me to the shoe section and said, “Pick any pain; I will get them for you.” Although I was embarrassed and didn’t want him to have to buy me shoes, I realized how much he noticed and really cared about me. It was at that point that his rough exterior melted and I knew he was a wonderful and caring father.

 SACRIFICE

Lawrence Baker had fiver children and worked as a University Professor. In that time (1960s) the possession of extravagances was rare. Margaret, on of his daughter’s remembers that on occasion they would be treated to a candy bar. One candy bar for the entire family. She said that everyone, including her parents, were always so excited for this treat. They would all gather around as her father, Lawrence, opened the wrapping and began cutting the bar into small pieces. She said there was always one piece that was smaller than the rest and without hesitation her father would take this piece for himself. This seems like and insignificant even but it taught Margaret how much her parents sacrificed for her every day. She realized tat if her father sacrificed this small extravagance for his children that he must also be sacrificing more on their behalf.