LESSONS FROM DAD… part 3…
Lesson #7 – Dad showed me How to Take Care of One’s Temple.
My Dad was amazingly fit. Let me share with you his almost daily exercise routine for about 20 years – wake up at 4am, drive to Luneta and jog around the big park across Manila Hotel four times.
Then he would go to Army Navy Club for breakfast and then play a few sets of tennis with his buddies. After lunch, he would swim 50 laps in the half Olympic pool andthen be home at around 5pm for dinner.
But at age 91 he was diagnosed with stage 3 throat cancer. I spent a month with him in Honolulu where he was living with Mom and it was one of the best times we had together. We would spend the mornings and afternoons walking together and the rest of the day at the hospital for check ups and other things. Believe it or not, he was still running in the mornings at that age.
And because he was such a sturdy 91 year old, Doctors said they would attempt radiation therapy and surgery. It was risky but they went ahead and guess what, Dad survived and was later cleared of throat cancer. He had a scar from ear to ear and he was SO proud of it.
At age 93 he had another health emergency – a blocked intestine. It caused him to vomit and collapse in the bathroom. Mom called 9-11 and believe it or not, they got there in 5 minutes and rushed him, in another 5 minutes to Tripler Medical Hospital in Honolulu where he went straight into emergency surgery. It was very serious – so serious that the doctors asked the chaplain to call me.
I was here in Manila when I got the call. I just finished teaching an English class and remember how numb I felt. The chaplain said that there was a big chance that Dad wouldn’t survive. So we prayed.
But miracle of miracles, Dad survived once again. And after he recuperated from surgery, he returned to his running but he could only manage a 10 minute run in the mornings.
When he turned 94, he faced one last challenge – lung cancer. 15 days after that diagnosis, the angels took him to God. Although I was devastated, it was comforting to find out that two hours before his death, he was at a church service and that he passed on during his afternoon nap.
The prayer he taught me when I was little was answered.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, but if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul take.
Those are just 7 lessons from my Dad – there are so much more but we’d be here the whole day.
So let me ask the Fathers here this morning – what lessons do you want your children to remember when you are long gone? What stories would you want them to tell about you? It’s your choice and that choice starts today. Get to know your children NOW.
[…] CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3… Dad in front of his coool Jeep! Dad as Postmaster! My Dad was GI Joe Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)4 Terrific Gifts To Make For Father’s DayThe Perfect Father’s Day GiftFather’s Day Gift Guide: RecapFathers Day Gifts For Food-Loving Dads […]