Lessons My Father Taught Me

Jean Sexton writes:

My Dad was always a teacher. In over half a century, he taught me many lessons. I'd like to share them with you as one of his last gifts to the world.

Your right ends where the other guy's nose begins.

Dad always emphasized that we have rights to do certain things, but the absolute right to exercise them stops when it affects someone else. Then it is time to question whether your right is the correct thing to do.

With privileges there are responsibilities.

If you have the right or privilege to do something, you must use that privilege responsibly. There are consequences for actions and you must be willing to accept them.

The buck stops here.

There are times it is necessary to make a decision. Do it. And then, when you do something, accept the responsibility for having done so.

You have to look at yourself in the mirror each morning. Make that someone in the mirror someone you can live with.

Think about your decisions and choices. Make the best choice you can because you have to live with it and the consequences for the rest of your life.

Family is important. Do what you have to do for family.

Once Dad went fishing with a person and there were no life jackets worn by anyone on the boat. The boat capsized near a dam and Dad was struggling in an eddy that kept pulling him under. He thought of Mom and us kids and tried one more time with all of his might to get to the surface. Obviously he did, but he did it because our family needed him.

Learn from your mistakes.

Dad never, ever went on a boat again without wearing a life jacket.

Don't boo the referee.

People who are giving time and energy to make it possible for you to enjoy a sport aren't deliberately making mistakes. They are making the best decision they can from what they observed at the angle at which they saw it.

Things can be seen from different angles.

And that explains a lot of conflict in the world. Try to see things from the other guy's perspective so that you understand him better.

You have to understand what happened to understand why it happened.

If you understand the whys, then maybe you can see patterns and repeat the good ones and avoid the bad ones.

Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.

Because patterns repeat -- that's what patterns do. And this carries over into your personal life as well and into your interactions with people.

Sometimes the best way to be with God is out in His world where there is just you and Him.

Many times Dad went fishing in the early morning or was working in the yard before the sun was fully up. That is when we'd plant my daylilies when he came to visit. In the cool of the morning, with your hands in the earth, you could be close to God and know the beauties of the world He made.

Who we are is inside and that is what matters.

The outside of us is not what matters. Who we are is what is important. Therefore we must be the best person we can be.

If you love someone enough, you know you can let them go when they need to move on.

That's true for children who need to live a life that is connected to you, but apart. It's also true for children who must give up a beloved parent when his body finally fails him. Neither one is an easy thing to do, but love lets you do what is best for those you love, not what you want to do.