Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother

As I grow older, while I am, in several ways, different than my parents, I also have several qualities from each of them that I possess.  So, in another way to honor my parents, I thought I'd share some things that I think I inherited/picked up from them.

Let's start with my dad.  My dad, the logical man with the straightforward thought process.  Great qualities of a doctor.  While my line of thinking may not seem clear to others, there is almost always a very clear line of logic going on in my mind.  I'm very capable of doing things spur of the moment and I'm not a big planner for the future.  However, when I do go about something, there's an "A to B to C" line of thought.  But I'm not going around with blinders on.  I'm capable of taking a turn off the course and there will probably be a reason why.  Also, my dad is a huge reader and he's fast.  While my mom loves to read too, she will tell you herself that she isn't fast.  I'm fast.  If I get the time to sit down and read, I'll have a book gone in a day or two.  My dad and I like to know why and how something happened.  That's probably why we both took an interest in the sciences.  

My mom....oh my mom.  I am so much like her in more ways than I would have ever thought.  My mom is a very giving person.  She will do anything for anybody and never expect anything in return.  I saw that growing up and I'd like to think that it rubbed off on me.  The way I'll drop anything when someone calls and needs help or see a chore (folding laundry, doing dishes) and do it for them, but never really wanting anything in return.  Always working, always doing something, hating to be still, and not letting an injury or illness keep her down (at least not for long).  I try to let myself "be still" at times, to rejuvenate, but I'm on the go too.  My mom's a doer for sure.  And the last thing I got from her.....definitely the sense of humor/sarcasm.  Oh yeah, I definitely picked that up.

And some things are a blend of the two.  My dad's emotional and he shows it on the outside.   I saw my mom as such a strong person, who didn't let anything get to her, and she didn't show it on the outside because we all needed her to be so strong.  While growing up, I told myself that I didn't want to be called a "cry baby" anymore (as tears came so easily) so I started trying to hide it so that I could be considered strong and to show no weakness.  I'm realizing it's okay to be in the middle.  Something else that's from both of them?  A very strong sense of country, of patriotism, a deep seeded respect for our military, and love for the country we live in, no matter how screwed up it is at times.

As much as I may or may not like it, I am my parent's child. Of this there is no doubt. I'm moved out now, have been for several years.  I'm still to honor them.  I'm not necessarily honoring them how I used to when I still lived under their roof, but I'm honoring them differently.  Being to them what they were to me.   Honoring our family. A help, patient, loving, kind, influencing the world around me.  (For example:  Being patient when showing them the capabilities of their phone and computer.  I mean, how patient were they when they taught me to ride a bike, read a book, shoot a basket, finish homework.  The hours spent taking me to sports practices, 4-H meetings, etc.  :-) ) They have done so much for me, much much more than I could ever repay.  So what will I do?  Honor them, make them proud, and then raise my kids, God willing, to be good, hardworking, God fearing, respectful, caring young people who will go out and change the world in their own way.