To know me is to know my father. I am a direct product of his teaching. I wish I could create a nice list of memorable moments to share, but he was so much more than that… and we’d be here for quite a while. He was a man filled with so much experience and wisdom, and most importantly, he was always willing to share.
Physically, he was a short, unassuming man… until he spoke.
His voice was that of someone who commanded respect. Not a voice that made you
fearful, but a voice that made you listen. He was always meticulous and specific
with what he said, and was notorious for correcting your grammar. But from
that, he taught me to not waste my words. Like him, I’m not a big talker, but
it’s not because I’m shy or nervous, it’s because I want to say what I mean,
and mean what I say. My father helped me understand the importance of clarity
and thoughtfulness in my speech. He showed me that when you speak clearly, use
proper grammar and present yourself in a professional manner, people will pay
attention to what you say.
He taught me how to carry myself with class and dignity and
how to dress well and take care of what’s mine. He showed me how to iron and
keep my shirts and pants wrinkle-free because we don’t know when we’ll meet the
Lord, but when we do, you better believe we’ll at least look good. But within that, the deeper lesson was
learning to take care and respect myself.
My father was also a very creative man. As many of you know,
I like to draw. I’ve been doodling for as long as I can remember. I also love
to play music. I grew up a band geek and later learned to play drums and
guitar. You can probably guess where those talents came from. My father would
often talk about his days in band, insisting that I practice more and to “feel
the music”… or give me tips on my artwork, showing me how to draw ninja
turtles… but what he was really doing was helping me to not be afraid to use my
imagination. That it was OK to think and problem solve a little differently. He
had a great ability to take something as is, do a little thinking and then
create something awesome. This was most evident in his cooking… specifically
his ribs. I apologize to those of you who’ve never had them because
unfortunately, you really missed out.
Of all the things my father taught me, his actions are what
I remember most. He grew up in New York and would tell us about his childhood.
It wasn’t easy. But I’ll never forget him telling us about the night he stood
outside of a church, listening to the music… finally going inside and his life
changing forever when he accepted Christ. He was so grateful for that moment
and I’ll always remember how much he loved Jesus. How important it was to him
for his family to know he was a proud man of God and that with God, all things
are possible.
So yes, the man you see before you today is a direct product
of the teaching and wisdom from my father. He taught me many lessons, and
through his actions, showed me what a godly man, husband, father, and friend
looks like. He poured so much into me and I’m proud of the man I’ve become. Thank
you, dad for everything. We’ll miss you, but don’t worry, we’ll be ok because
you taught us well.
