Happy Father's Day

I cannot say thank you enough to my father, Charles Higdon.  If I knew how to say "Thank you" in every language ever used on this planet I would not begin to say it enough.  While I am not a father myself, I learned all about how to be a man from my dad.

What he taught me was not the "how to be a man" you see on TV or on the big screen -- especially in this day and age when men are portrayed as weak and dumb.  The manhood my father taught was not Rambo and was not According to Jim.  The manhood my father taught me was that it doesn't really matter what you say, but what you do.  It matters that make decisions that benefit those you are responsible for, even if it means degrading and demeaning yourself.

The manhood my father taught me was to be patient with everyone, even yourself.  I was taught to help those around you, even if it cost you money.  I was taught that family means more than materials.  I was taught to stand up for your principals.  The manhood my father taught me was to never lose faith in God.

The one story that has always stood to me regarding my father was but a fleeting moment on vacation.  I don't remember how hold I was, but we were on vacation on the beach.  My father and I were walking when these kids, older than I was, probably teens, came up to him and asked him a question.  I don't remember what it was, I only remember that the question and my dad's answer was calculated to make him look stupid and give them a giggle.  I remember being embarrassed because my dad had no idea what was going on. As an adult, I know that it didn't matter.  I know that my dad didn't have the first care what those kids thought of him.  By answering their question he was trying to help them.  I know he would have done the same even if he had known the whole thing was designed to make him look foolish in those kid's eyes.  My dad only cared about spending time with me and helping someone else where he could. 

Of the multitude of things I have to be thankful for in my life, one of the things I am most faithful for is the chance to get to know my father as an adult. I cannot imagine what my now 73 year old father sees when he looks around the world, but I know he looks at it with a rock solid faith and an unwavering devotion to his family.  My sole goal every day is to try and be a fraction of the man my father is. 

When I look at society and see what it is becoming.  When I look at a world that has zero use for a man's role in raising children.  I only need think of one of the numerous examples of what being a real man is that were taught to me by Charles Higdon and pray. 

"If you want to be happy, really really happy, use your talents to serve others." - Eduardo Verastegui