My dad wanted to be a doctor. But when he received his draft notice, he dropped out of pre-med, and joined the Air Force. He eventually became an officer in the Strategic Air Command.
After his military service, he never went back to pre-med. The demands of family life drove him to seek gainful employment faster than years of medical school would have allowed. He finished his four years of college and got a job as a high-school science teacher. After a few years, he left the school system for the private sector – but never stopped teaching.
He became a metallurgist for a major automotive manufacturer. Over the next 30 years, he rose to the position of vice-president in that company.
My daughter – his granddaughter – remembers him as the guy who flew to Japan on Monday to negotiate with Mitsubishi. But by Saturday, was sitting on the floor with her having a belching contest. My son remembers him as the maker of the best milkshakes on earth.
Dad was considered a “company man” by his bosses, but not by himself. He put in long hours and was away from home a lot. But he didn’t do it because of any affection for the company. He did it because he took his duty as the family provider seriously.
For him “work/life balance” didn’t mean taking time off for leisure activities. It meant using the few hours he had at home before the kids went to bed to play catch or attend piano recitals. After we went to bed, he went back to work on the paperwork which he’d brought home in his briefcase. I never heard dad ask for any “me” time. I doubt if he even knew what that was.
As I watched him advance at work, I realized that he had left the classroom, but he did not leave teaching. He mentored countless executives at work, taught Sunday school at church, and taught me the important lessons of life. He prepared me to be a man.
My Dad built three houses with his bare hands. He built the first when I was only three. To a three-year-old it seemed a herculean task. But I learned that no job is too big. I could do anything that I set my mind to.
He taught me to ride a bike. The lesson wasn’t about transportation. To a five-year-old balancing a vehicle on 2 wheels seems a near impossibility. But dad showed me that gravity could be conquered for the low price of a scraped knee. It was a lesson that things which seem impossible, often aren’t.
Dad taught me to drive a car, but he had an ulterior motive. He and Mom wanted grandchildren someday and driving is an essential skill in the courting process. When I collided with another vehicle in an icy parking with the family car, he just asked, “What did you learn about driving on ice?” Yup, he was first and foremost a teacher.
Dad taught me how to change a flat tire – without using a cell phone or a triple “A” card. The lesson wasn’t about cars or tires. It was that men should be prepared for the unexpected, because the safety and welfare of the family is their duty.
Dad taught me to be dependable. If he wasn’t at work on time, the only plausible explanation was that the medics were still trying to revive him. The only time he ever had a sick day, someone else had to call it in, because he physically couldn’t pick up the phone – otherwise he’d be at work. A man must be the rock of stability that gives the family security.
I returned home one day to find my dad sitting in a chair in the living room firing his 22-caliber rifle through the ceiling. Our attic had been invaded by squirrels and he was shooting where they were trying to dig through the ceiling. Once the invaders were repelled, the holes were spackled, and the lesson was complete. When the family home is attacked, it is a man’s duty to defend it – with arms if necessary.
The following spring my dad taught me how to re-roof a house. It seems the place had sprung a few leaks. He assured me that the .22 inch holes we were covering were not caused by the .22 inch ammunition which was used in the war of the squirrels. I learned when something goes wrong around the house, it’s a man’s duty to handle it. It’s also good for the marriage, impressing the wife with one of the mysteries of manhood – always having a solution to any problem. I’ve learned that YouTube is an invaluable tool in this regard.
Dad always helped those in need. If he saw a car broken down on the side of the road, he took off his tie (yes, he always wore a tie), rolled up his sleeves, and got to work – with a smile. If a neighbor’s house was damaged by a storm, he showed up with his tools. He never accepted anything but a “thank you.” I learned that charity is not something provided by the government, it’s something we gift to each other as caring members of our community.
A man’s legacy isn’t the recognition or wealth that he accumulates. It’s the wisdom he passes on to others with daily teaching moments. Maybe one of that man’s ancestors will accomplish something great because of a lesson that originated with him. A father’s duty is to prepare his children to be productive members of society – receiving little or no recognition for doing so – knowing that true greatness is achieved through one’s ancestors.
Author Bio: John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He has written for American Thinker, and American Free News Network. He can be followed on Facebook or reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.
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