My dad is an eternal optimist. As one of ten children who grew up in a small farming community, in a home built on faith, he was raised with a great sense of humor and he inherited a quick wit. These are qualities all of his siblings remarkably share. He is one of my role models and I experience him living out this verse:

“However, be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you don’t forget the things which you have seen with your own eyes. Don’t let them fade from your memory as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.” (Deuteronomy 4:9, God’s Word Translation)

As his daughter, I’ve appreciated the many lessons I’ve learned through him teaching me through personal stories he’s shared. Some of these he included on episode 27 Life Lessons with My Dad.

The episode is still available and now there is also a transcript included in the show notes. I loved re-reading this transcript to enjoy his lessons again. For instance, he said, “I think the Bible is the most positive book you can ever get your hands on.” (I can do all things through Christ, With God all things are possible, ask and you shall receive, freely you have received, freely give) “I was able to experience some wonderful results when I tried that - when I implemented that mindset . . . and the results are so reinforcing! . . .”

Here’s one example: We had a local bank who hosted an economic forecast breakfast and Dad was invited to fill out a form of predictions for the year to come. One year he thought, “You know what? I’m just going to answer each one of these in the most optimistic[ally] possible way that I can answer it, and I did . . . and a year later I was given the trophy for the most right. And I thought, when I’m looking for the best, somehow God provides that for me.”

I especially appreciate the way he talks about this goodness of God, with a smile on his face and a twinkle in His eye . . . much like the way I envision God talking to each of us!

My Dad continued, “One thing that I’ve consistently noticed is that when I take a problem to God, and ask for His help, the resulting answer is often much better than what I’d ever imagined could happen. And I’ve seen that in some big decisions - I can think of one where I bought out a business partner and it worked out. When I took it to God, it worked out in a way far better than I had ever expected it to or envisioned it happening. And it works in small situations - just this past winter, Mom and I were going to take a flight to Florida. We had a connecting flight at O’Hare and we were leaving from Bloomington and the Bloomington flight got fogged in. And we couldn’t leave for 3 or 4 hours, which made us miss our connecting flight. So now all of a sudden, we are in Chicago in a big snow storm and every flight the rest of that day and the next two days was booked. There wasn’t an open seat on any flight going anywhere close to where we were going in Florida. So our first day up there, we were on standby and we didn’t make it onto that flight, so we had to stay in Chicago that night. We even thought about renting a car and just driving - it just looked so impossible for us to get there - and I remember just committing that to God, whatever happens here, let’s just take it to be the way it’s supposed to be happening. Well the next morning at 7 o’clock when there was another flight and we went, we were on standby and there were two spots open. And mom had a nice seat right up in the front. My seat - I love the aisle. I was on the aisle. I rarely pay the extra money to get the exit row, but I got the exit row. It’s just such a good example of a, really, a small problem, but how God provides far beyond what we even hope for. I’d have been happy to stand on that plane the whole way down and back in the bathroom, if I’d have needed to, to get down there! But I was on a nice aisle seat in the exit row and I don’t actually hear this audibly, but I hear still a voice in situations like that, where God is just speaking to me and saying, “How’d I do?” And it happens in a way when I’m not even thinking about it and that thought comes to me and I think, it’s amazing how God provides.”

Do you see why I love Dad’s stories and lessons so much?!

When I asked him about serving for Midwest Food Bank, he acknowledged his enjoyment of being on the board. “I love working with people, and I love trying to set policy and strategy, but the ultimate is when you’re actually getting to be the hands and feet of Jesus. One lady in particular, her husband became bipolar and left soon after their baby was born. She didn’t have a job, she was evicted then out of her apartment, but she came and got food in that line. We didn’t realize the full impact [that had]. She talked about that turkey, you know, it didn’t just feed Thanksgiving, but Christmas . . . and well into the next year. Those are stories that when you hear about their life experiences and see the challenges some people face, it can just be hugely rewarding to be a part of helping them out.”

This wasn’t the first time Dad shared this particular story with me. I recalled she was the woman they had met years ago, but after she had been a recipient of that blessing, she came in following years to be the hands and feet of Jesus by serving the turkey to others. She joyfully rode in the semi with them to deliver this food to others.

Not all of my Dad’s stories are happy or easy ones.

When Dad was 38 years old, one Wednesday night he was getting ready for church and an old classmate, who was a fireman, came to his house and told him to get to the hospital because his dad, my Grandpa Leman, had been in a bad car accident. Dad recalls, “I just remember - I was driving down Germantown Hill and the sun was just setting - right as I was coming down that hill and the words to the song “Safe in the Arms of Jesus” just overwhelmed me. I really think that was the moment he passed away.”

My dad was the person who had to call his mom to break the news about the accident. All ten siblings were alerted and came together.

“When you see somebody’s life come to an abrupt end like that, it just reemphasizes again the importance of our actions in this life. And my dad loved Jesus and there’s no doubt in my mind that he’s in Heaven. I look forward to seeing him again!”

Dad’s hope springs eternal and he is able to transition from tragic loss to a lighthearted lesson, “But we also need to remember the small victories and I sometimes jokingly refer to an experience in college as one of the ten best days of my life: I mentioned what I lived on back then - wasn’t much - and never had any money in my pocket, it didn’t seem like. I would come home sometimes on the weekend - we lived 30 miles away from ISU - and on Sunday nights then I’d go back and sometimes it was great fun because we were going to get together with friends back at the school. And there were other times when pretty much nothing was going on and you knew you were heading back to an empty apartment on a Sunday night. But I remember one time I was going back, and I was kind of hungry, and as I pulled into Normal, I thought, “I’m going to stop at this convenient store and get a couple donuts.” So I walked in. I had two quarters and two pennies in my pocket and I looked at the prices and I saw the donuts were a quarter. Illinois, at that time, had a 5% sales tax, so I knew that on 50 cents, there’d be a 3 cent tax, so I was a penny short. So I thought I’d just kind of try to charm my way into getting two donuts for 52 cents. And I asked the gal behind the counter, I said, “Uh, I’d like to get two donuts, but I think it will be 53 cents and I’ve only got 52 cents.” I was pretty sure she was going to say, “Aw, don’t worry about that penny.” But she didn’t. She said, “Well, I guess you can only get one then.” I thought, “Mmm, ok. Well, I guess that’s that,” So I went ahead and said, “OK, go ahead and give me one.” And she rang it up and the tax came out to one penny and she said “That will be 26 cents.” And right then, it dawned on me, “Hey! I can get another one!” So I told her “Now I’ll take another one!” And she wasn’t real friendly about it, she kind of grabbed the sack back and stuck the other donut in there, but that to me, was one of life’s little victories and it’s just fun to experience those and you have to cherish those and you have to just appreciate those little victories in life.”

So sometimes, just the little days and the little wins can mean so much!!

It reminds me how he not only recognizes victories, but he makes sure to celebrate them as well. This brings him so much joy that he tries to share this outlook with his children and others. For instance, when I was in my final year of graduate school, there was a licensing exam I needed to pass in order to practice professionally after graduate school. Soon after this big exam, I had to also take finals.

I am an extrovert by nature, so the hours upon hours of studying and not interacting with people left me stressed out. I felt like I was withering as a human (yes, a little dramatic, I know.)

My parents were aware of my big exam and I have no doubt they were praying for me through it. When it was over, my dad called me to ask what I was going to do with the rest of my Friday. I responded, “Well, I’m going to go to the coffee shop and study for all my other exams.” And Dad responded, “No, no, no, no. You’re going to call a couple other friends and you’re going to take them out to dinner to celebrate” (His treat). I’m pretty sure my eyes filled instantly with tears. The relief that came from having permission to rest well and celebrate fully after a season of intensity was such a gift! And it was a gift to my two other dear friends who had also taken that exam Friday morning and were facing their own finals in the week to come. We were all in a season of full-time school with no job because the internship and studying was prioritized over income. So it was a real gift to have a free dinner, all together!! In this way, my earthly father reflected my generous and celebratory Heavenly Father who says not only, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, NIV), but also “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:2-3, AMP)

I’m thankful we have a Heavenly Father who is available and desires a relationship with each of us. He wants us to know Him and He delights in making Himself known through Scripture, stories, lessons, the Holy Spirit, and beyond. I am so grateful the best is yet to come, Amen!

My three hopes for you after reading these short stories are to first, listen to episode 27 Life Lessons with My Dad and glean more of his godly wisdom! Then I hope you enjoy all the transcripts of each episode from The Savvy Sauce podcast, which are now available at www.thesavvysauce.com. We’ve invested time and money creating these words with you in mind. I pray now it’s a blessing on you and yours as you interact with these words. And finally, I pray you heed the lessons of Deuteronomy and pass along your own stories and lessons to the next generation.

Deuteronomy 4:9 (God’s Word Translation), “However, be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you don’t forget the things which you have seen with your own eyes. Don’t let them fade from your memory as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren.”

May you be blessed in doing so, Amen!

Sincerely,

Laura

About The Savvy Sauce

Practical chats for intentional living

A faith-based podcast and resources to help you grow closer to Jesus and others. Expect encouragement, surprises, and hope here. Each episode offers lively interviews with fascinating guests such as therapists, authors, non-profit founders, and business leaders.

They share their best practices and savvy tips we can replicate to make our daily life and relationships more enjoyable!