My father has taught me some valuable things over the course of the last 25 years. And though my father is far from perfect, I'm grateful that he has instilled many wonderful things in my life. They have been some of the most useful tools I've ever been given. So, here's to you, Dad!
1. How to change a tire. Over 9 years ago, I bought my first car and my dad took it as a opportunity to teach me how to change a tire. He also taught me how to change the brakes, too. But I have since forgotten how to do the latter. However, he spent many hours helping me loosen lug nuts and put tires on. When my mother-in-law, sister-in-law and I had a tire blown in Arkansas, those hours came in handy. We put on the spare tire, drove to the nearest Wal-Mart and had a brand new tire in less than an hour. My father gave me the gift of empowerment when he taught me how to change that tire. If fathers don't empower their daughters, who will?
2. How to use a screw driver. I use a screw driver every single day. And I can tell you the difference between a Phillips and a flat head. It would be hard for me to accomplish half the things I do in my day if my dad hadn't taught me how to use a screw driver at the ripe age of 6. When fathers teach their daughters how to use tools, they give their daughters the ability to build and dream. And that's priceless.
3. How to cook. This may be a long shot for some fathers, but I truly enjoy cooking with my dad. I spent a lot of time watching him whip up delicious meals for me when I was younger. It was a great experience because it made me realize that both men and women can do each other's jobs well. Husbands and wives should have a healthy respect for each other in this regard. I was blessed to have two parents who both possessed the ability to cook, clean, and work. My father also showed me that the kitchen is really the heart of every home.
4. How to carve a pumpkin. My dad used to carve my pumpkins for me as a child. I'd sit in the driveway and watch as he'd remove the top of the pumpkin, scrap out the insides, and then cut out a silly face on the front. While I can no longer remember the silly faces, I do remember the hours we'd spend sitting on the driveway together. Fathers, whether or not you celebrate Halloween, take a moment to sit beside your daughter in the driveway and work with your hands. She will be eternally grateful for the simple memories she will treasure many years down the road. Because it's really time--not the activity--that matters most.
5. How to have fun. My dad is the "King of Fun". I remember he would take us hiking and tell us crazy stories of mountain men. We'd spend all day at the beach surfing and he'd paddle us out past the waves to sit in the undisturbed sea for a while. We'd go to the desert and sleep at the base of a hillside for a night. My dad taught me that no matter how hard we work, there should always be time for relaxing and exploring. And having fun.
6. How to build a robot. It was one of my elementary school projects: build a robot. With things we had lying around the house--beads, buttons, shoebox, toilet paper roll--we built the coolest robot I've ever seen. My dad spent hours working with me on this silly robot that stood a foot and a half tall. But I think every creative bone in my body stemmed from that first lesson on creating something beautiful out of the remnants of things that used to be. Life is so much like that. The leftover scraps can be molded together to build something magical.
7. How to dream big. My dad has been and will always be the biggest dreamer I know. I can't tell you how many dreams he would talk about when I was younger. Here's what that taught me: dreams propel us forward. They motivate us to get up early and go to bed late. My father did both. And while some dreams didn't come to pass, I believe he's still dreaming today about the possibilities of tomorrow. I'm grateful he passed that down to me.
8. How to love strangers. How to love strangers well; it was the most inconvenient lesson I've ever learned. If someone crossed our path who needed help, my father always stopped. If someone was off-roading and got stuck in the mud, he'd pull them out. If they were out of gas, he'd drive them to the nearest gas station and then back. If someone had a flat tire, he'd help them change it. The heart of every father should be focused on this one truth: others matter and it's of great importance that your kids see that.
9. How to love herself. There were two things my father always said to me growing up: a. "I love you" and b. "I'm proud of you". I've never had confidence issues; trust me, it has (and still does!) annoy a lot of people. My father was always really good at injecting me with a ton of encouragement. In those moments when I did have a problem with myself, I could always count on him to help me change it. My dad always gave me room to be who I was, but still made it clear he had realistic expectations for who I'd turn out to be. It was a fine balance between holding onto his little girl and letting her go. Because he believed in me, I believed in me. And when you believe in yourself, there is nothing you can't do.
10. How to love Jesus. My father was always very open with me. Our relationship was--and still is--very much centered around conversation. Because I see my father as someone I can talk to often and about any subject, I view God the same way. I talk to Jesus throughout most of my day. I know that I can approach him about anything troubling my heart. I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful for knowing that God longs to have these conversations with me. And that He's also in the business of constantly aiding me, much like my father used to when we lived in the same state.
Fathers, you are far from perfect and you will mess up a time or two. But the gifts you pass along to your daughters will forever change their hearts. Make them good gifts; make them lasting ones.
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