I learned a few new things about my Dad this past week. They are not overly significant in themselves, but they tell me more than just what they convey. There are lessons for me within these stories.
Lesson 1: The value of learning
My Dad’s Dad, my grandfather, was a schoolteacher in rural Arkansas. Therefore, my Dad started school at age 4, which eventually led him to graduate from high school at 16. He was the youngest of six kids, so he started working at a creamery with his brothers the summer after graduation. He quickly realized the harshness of physical labor and wanted to make the most of the advantages his education could offer. So he started college, still only 16, and drove a bookmobile to pay for school.
Lesson 2: Goals incorporate habits
My Dad comes to visit us in Florida every winter. We celebrated his 93rd birthday. This past year, my Dad discovered he could track his steps on his phone. I found out that he has been walking 10,000 steps every day. Keep in mind that besides his age, he is legally blind due to an ocular anerism 2+ years ago. Still, he walks the 2 miles to the grocery store in our neighborhood, gets a snack, and walks back. Even cold weather will not deter him from getting his steps.
The men’s Bible study that I lead in our neighborhood is expanding. We have three more men joining us. We have started a study on the book of Romans. I decided to use these two lessons by continuing our Bible study using the same format each week. We are doing a Discovery Bible Study, where we reflect on what we learned the previous week, read this week’s passage, and discuss what we learn about God from it. The guys know what to expect each time we meet, and it is resulting in more self-learning and sharing.