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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Father (as in paternal parent, not God) (04/10/08)
It was quiet hard for him to appreciate me. He always saw me as a disobedient child and he would often say that to me straight. Rarely had I received a word of appreciation or encouragement from him. But his one-time encouragement which he gave me when I was a kid made a lot of difference to my studies - I took up my studies seriously and it saved me from being a failure at school. But perhaps that was the only time I had heard him speak a word of encouragement to me.

My dad – he was always like that. Not that I was a wayward child of his, but there were (and still is) difference in opinions, perception, attitude and choices made between us. This would often result in arguments, but my elder sister always stood by his side.

My dad believed that because of my disobedience to his words or advice, I would not succeed in anything that I took up in life. He was very proud of my sister’s accomplishments in life, and he would credit it to her obedient nature. He always spoke about her with pride to others.

My dad loved both his daughters (myself and my sister) equally; there was no doubt about it. Yet his elder daughter was the pride of his life. Sometimes it hurt me when he overlooked some of my little works in the Lord, especially those which others in the family appreciated. I got used to my dad’s attitude and I would often try to ‘pull his leg’, accusing that he loved my sister more than me, which he always denied.

Recently a testimony that my dad shared when my family moved to a new church, moved me… I never thought that I would ever get to hear such word from him. As he shared how he came to know the Lord and how God worked in his life, he told a word which I would never forget for life...

“….it’s because of my second daughter that I came to know the Lord. Though I did not understand and initially agree the way she took in Christ, I knew that she was right. And she is a wise woman and a counselor too.”

For the first time I heard my dad’s heart. I did not realize that he held a high esteem of me. Just because I did not get to hear him speak encouraging or appreciating words, I always saw him as my jury. Being with him the past 30 years I had known him so much, yet so little…

I felt so ashamed for having perceived him wrong for so long years. Perhaps my disobedience to his words had closed my heart to see his.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Dee Yoder
04/18/08
It's true that we often think of our parents in one way and sometimes don't mature beyond that image we had of them when we were under their roof. It would be nice if he gave you some encouraging words, too.
Jan Ackerson
04/20/08
A very moving testimony, and I'm very glad your shared it.
dub W
04/22/08
This is touching, and well written. Thank you.