Teacher

     One summer when I was very young, I remember waking up in a cabin, in Canada.  My mom, dad, little brother and I were staying by winnipeg lake with my mom's family.  Everyone, but my dad, was still asleep.
     Cup of coffee in his hand, my dad was out on the steps of the cabin, sketching.  The whole scene struck me as being wonderful.  I don't know what about that moment, I loved the most, but it's a fond memory, I'll never forget.  Early morning, the smell of coffee, the birds singing in the trees, the air, cool and crisp and there I was, standing behind him, watching him draw.  What I wanted most at that moment was to learn, from my dad.
     You see, my dad has a way of teaching that would sometimes frustrate me, but now that I'm older, I gotta tell you, that man could really teach.  That morning at the lake, he taught me how to draw.
     He showed me what to do, then he let me try, by myself.  The mistakes that I made, never bothered him; they were just a part of the learning process.  He watched over me and tenderly corrected me when I needed it.
     During my school years, I would ask my dad questions about my homework.  Looking for the quick and easy answer, but the answer I always got from my dad was, "Let's look that up in the encyclopedias."  Never the easy way out for me.  He wanted to be sure that I understood and remembered what I needed to learn.
     God has many ways of teaching and the Bible is our encyclopedia.  God teaches us through the Holy Spirit.  In John14:25-26, Jesus said, "All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  All the answeres are there, in the Bible, but God dosen't leave it up to us to teach ourselves.  He helps us to understand and remember.  He allows us to make mistakes along the way so that we will become the kind of people that he would have us be.
     Hebrews 4:12 tells us another way he has helped us.  "For the word of God is living and active."  We don't have a dead encyclopedia.
     Last of all, Gods desire for us, just as my dad's desire for me, is to be complete and not lacking in anything.  2 peter 1:5-8, "For this very reason make every effort to add to your Faith; goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge; perseverance; and to perseverance; godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities inincreasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
     My Heavenly Father, and my earthly Father, want the best for me.  Both are there, helping, teaching and watching me grow through my mistakes so that I can live a life, complete and effective, lacking nothing.

I wrote this, over three years ago.  Since then, my dad had passed.  I learned so much from him, one of the main things was how to teach.  I try to teach my kids in the very same way, hands on and, "Let's look it up."  He was a wonderful man!  I love you Dad, this one's for you.