We are all a little jacked up: If you've ever heard my dad speak, you have probably been startled by the use of his favorite
phrase, "jacked up." It doesn't matter if he is speaking to a room
full of strangers on a cruise ship or across a pulpit to a church congregation;
he commonly uses this brutally realistic phrase. I think that is why so many
people relate to my dad’s content — it is just so real! Coming from my dad,
this phrase “jacked up” refers the fact that all human beings carry around some
form of extra baggage in their lives. Whether the baggage is caused by
past guilt, fears, addictions or secrets, he has taught me that "people
whose hands are full of baggage have a harder time carrying the load of
others." As a teenage girl experiencing typical high school drama, my dad
was always quick to remind me that the issues we had as friends weren’t because
people were intentionally trying to be mean but rather because we were just
simply “jacked up.” He would also remind me that people that hurt other people
are usually hurting themselves. Learning this from a young age has helped me to
always try to give people the benefit of the doubt before choosing to be
offended.
Become the change: My dad has a real knack for identifying the
talents and gifts in others. It is one of the things I am very most grateful
for. At several stages while growing up, my dad would point out my strengths
and help guide and direct me to which path I should take. Early on he
recognized a passion and talent in me for writing and public speaking and even
urged me to join the high school debate team. After qualifying for state in debate,
my dad started joking that he regretted encouraging this talent because now he
can never win an argument at home. I vividly remember when he challenged me to
stop watching the rest of the world as it passed by and to develop my own
talents and follow the advice of Ghandi who said: "One must become the
change he seeks in the world." I am grateful that my dad, whose parents
divorced when he was eight, didn’t just sit around sad because of the
separation, but instead he became the relationship change he wanted to see in
the world.
Finding personal peace: The night before my wedding day we had
a dinner with our closest family and friends. My husband and I still talk about
how this was one of the most special parts of our whole marriage event. I
distinctly remember looking out and being filled with emotion seeing that all
of the people I loved most were gathered together in one room to support us.
After dinner we had a program where we invited our siblings, bridal party and
parents to give us their best advice. My dad closed out the night and many were
wondering what advice he would give to his only daughter. It was
priceless, something that I will never forget. He started by expressing his
complete love and approval for the amazing man that I had found to marry.
He then directed his attention right to me and said, "Sarah, your
personal peace will never come from another person, not from your partner, not
from the people around you, not from the power you possess, your popularity,
prestige or profits. In the end your only sure and lasting peace will only ever
come from God and his principles." From that day forward, through every
challenge we have endured, we have learned that we must look to God and live,
and not solely rely on each other to find peace in our lives. BYU Universe Link: http://universe.byu.edu/2014/06/12/a-tribute-to-dad-5-lessons-we-learned-from-our-fathers1/
Townsend Relationship Center: http://matttownsend.com/
I love you dad, Happy Father's Day!
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