I grew up with a great Dad. He taught me about what is important. He works hard. He is honest. He loves my Mom. He loves his kids. He loves the Lord.
He is one of my heroes.
One of the things I have really come to appreciate about my Dad and others like him is his optimism. Seeing the world as a glass half full is a gift - and a secret to happiness. I love to be around optimistic people.
In order to take care of the needs of a family of 8 my Dad started a landscaping company years ago. He taught seminary during the day then worked after school and weekends on his business. And I worked right alongside him with my brothers. This was a great blessing in so many ways. I learned to work hard. I got to spend time talking and learning from my dad and my brothers. I learned to take pride in a job well done. I learned that you finish a job before you quit. I learned that you go to work anyway - even if you don't want to.
And I learned the gift of optimism from him. Many times, while working late to finish a job we were tired and grumpy and ready to go home. He would look up and say, "gosh that's a beautiful sunset". He did this hundreds of times. If it was hot we would be complaining about the heat but he would just say, "boy, that cold water sure tastes good on a day like this". One day while we were weeding a field of mint (a very tedious job) he stopped, and put a handful of it into his shirt pocket. Then as the day progressed he would occasionally stop and smell the mint and say how it reminded him of his own dad. I really love those memories.
So, in troubled times like we are in now where there is so much belittling, despair, and hatred I am always so grateful to come across someone who chooses to be optimistic. I love the gift of optimistic people in my life. I hope to be more that way myself.
Thanks Dad for teaching me that there is always a beautiful way to see the world. Like a sunset, or a glass of cold water, or the smell of mint.
He is one of my heroes.
One of the things I have really come to appreciate about my Dad and others like him is his optimism. Seeing the world as a glass half full is a gift - and a secret to happiness. I love to be around optimistic people.
In order to take care of the needs of a family of 8 my Dad started a landscaping company years ago. He taught seminary during the day then worked after school and weekends on his business. And I worked right alongside him with my brothers. This was a great blessing in so many ways. I learned to work hard. I got to spend time talking and learning from my dad and my brothers. I learned to take pride in a job well done. I learned that you finish a job before you quit. I learned that you go to work anyway - even if you don't want to.
And I learned the gift of optimism from him. Many times, while working late to finish a job we were tired and grumpy and ready to go home. He would look up and say, "gosh that's a beautiful sunset". He did this hundreds of times. If it was hot we would be complaining about the heat but he would just say, "boy, that cold water sure tastes good on a day like this". One day while we were weeding a field of mint (a very tedious job) he stopped, and put a handful of it into his shirt pocket. Then as the day progressed he would occasionally stop and smell the mint and say how it reminded him of his own dad. I really love those memories.
So, in troubled times like we are in now where there is so much belittling, despair, and hatred I am always so grateful to come across someone who chooses to be optimistic. I love the gift of optimistic people in my life. I hope to be more that way myself.
Thanks Dad for teaching me that there is always a beautiful way to see the world. Like a sunset, or a glass of cold water, or the smell of mint.
6 comments:
I love the thoughts about your dad. I wonder sometimes if he is from the same planet as the rest of us.
I remember the poem he said at my wedding lunch.
"with misty eyes we visualize a heaven far away, while we blindly stumble through a heaven every day"
I was going to read a book about "The Power of Positive Thinking" but thought what good would that do?
Matto that was really great. I really love your dad and your brothers. You all emulate that kindness and optomism. Thank you!
That was simply lovely! Thanks.
Nicely put big brother. Dad is so great at always looking at the positive - something I wish I could do better at. Good thing we have a whole lifetime to work on it! I loved your memories of yardcare with him. Those were some good times - I had a couple of summers doing that until he felt like I was too much of a "young woman" to be doing dirty sweaty hard labor. Gotta love him.
Just very, very nice. Think I'll use the concept in my Anxiety/Depression group tomorrow night...
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