“You can do it, Keish. I promise I won’t drop you.” The
words weren’t much of a comfort as I stood on the floor looking up to my dad’s
smiling face as he said them. We were at the top of the stairs that went down
to the basement, I took a big gulp of air and swallowed hard as I looked
down into the darkness. I shook my head, “I’m too scared daddy.”
He
assured me that everything would be fine once more, and mustering every ounce
of courage my four-year-old self had, I let him hoist me onto his shoulders. My
mom was giggling at my fear-filled face as she handed me the new light bulb,
“Just screw it in really fast sweetie,” she smiled.
I
concentrated so hard on not dropping the shiny glass bulb that I started to feel my hards get sweaty as my dad carefully found
footing on the wooden molding lining each side of the stair well. He stood up
straight and I found myself face to face with the grey-looking bulb that had
burned out earlier that day. I put the new bulb in my left hand ever so
carefully, and then unscrewed the old bulb, putting the new one in its place.
As
my dad set me back down on the floor, I felt the shakiness leave me, and the
nervousness disperse. Finally, I was able to take a deep breath and I looked up
at my parents offering them a sheepish grin. “See, that wasn’t so bad. I told
you I wouldn’t drop you,” my dad said in response to my shy demeanor. I just
giggled, thinking it was still scary. I was so grateful for the new light bulb,
because I was terrified of the dark, and all of my toys were down in the
basement in the toy room. Since our basement was unfinished, it was already
creepy enough down there, but I didn’t even attempt braving that place in the
dark. I was sure that something scary was going to grab my legs through the
open spaces in the stairs every time I went down there to play.
That’s
my dad, though. Always assuring me that he wouldn’t let me fall, always making
sure I’ve had enough light to see where I’m going and always showing me that
there are no monsters hiding in the dark. It wasn’t just new light bulbs to
guide me to the play room though, my dad offered me a guiding light all of my
life in his shining example of love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. My dad strove
to embody the example that Christ set for all of us in His time here on earth.
Namely a love for his fellow men, a devotion to serving others—even at his own
expense, and an unadulterated hope despite trying circumstances, disappointments, set-backs, or the disparaging words of his peers.
I
was lucky enough to watch him all of my life and learn from his example of
striving to grow each day; and sacrificing good or fun things, for better
things. My dad has always shown me the difference between want and need, and
led our family with an unmatched work ethic. My dad possesses a confidence in
his actions and himself that is awe-inspiring, and a love for my mother that I
have admired from a very young age.
As
I grew, my dad tried to teach me all of these qualities that I could see him
trying to develop in himself, and just like any kid, I fought him the whole
way. I didn’t want to go brand cows when the last day of school got out for
summer vacation. I didn’t want to wake up at 5 in the morning to move sprinkler
pipe before school, and later, I didn’t want to wake up at 5 in the morning to
attend seminary most of the time. In high school I drug my feet on the way to
church, and I drug my feet on the track, but he never let me quit and I will
always be thankful for that. It wasn’t until later in my life that I realized
how much quitting anything, even
small things, can hinder you from achieving your goals and dreams.
When
I left for college I know my dad hoped that I would hold on to the lessons and
the light of not only his example, but also Christ’s example that I had learned
so much about. It was a trying time for me and my family, and for the first
time in my life, my dad wasn’t there to show me there were no monsters in the
dark; because when I stepped out of the light, there were many monsters there
to greet me. Luckily, my dad’s light continued to shine for me. He never judged
me, or gave up on me during these trying times. Instead, he loved me fiercely
and was a loyal and reliable friend—while still being a parent. I know he isn’t
perfect, but he loved me perfectly in my hour of need.
I
am so thankful for the prayers of my father (and of course my mother) on my
behalf during that time. As each year passes I am continually more grateful for
the example that my dad has always been to me, and for all of the truth that he
has continually taught me. It was all of those things that helped me find the
greatest love of all—the redeeming love of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
Out
of all the accomplishments in my life, my most treasured are the ones that
happened under the beaming, proud smile of my dad. I strove, most of the time,
just to make him proud. I know that our Father in Heaven will one day look upon
my dad with that same beam if only for the way that he loved me, and helped me
grow closer to my Savior. My dad isn’t perfect, but he has taught me an eternal
and invaluable lesson to always strive to be like Jesus—to love others as
fiercely as I can, and to always rely on Christ’s example of pure love as a
guide for my life. You’re my hero, Dad.
