My brother’s and my dad was an accountant before leaving the corporate world and buying a rental business in the mountains. (Thankfully, they sold their business before the Gatlinburg wildfires took place). Anyway, Dad sees things with an ability to weigh the pros and cons. I think his background with numbers shaped the way he thinks. Dad did not look at things as being black or white; if anything he sees things as red or black.
As you know, in the red with regards to accounting means negative. The account is negative; it is overdrawn. There is debt.
If it is in the black, there is a profit. The account is positive. Red is negative, black is positive. Dad has this innate ability to see things with an ability to weigh outcomes. Positive or negative. If there is a negative outcome, I think Dad weighs it with more care, just to be certain. He is so thoughtful about the well being and needs of others, he looks at things, mathematically, to see if he can turn a negative into a positive.
Several years ago when I was dealing with a problem at work, I turned to my dad for advice. He told me, “You can allow this to make you bitter or better. One letter difference and only you can decide.”
I was really upset about the things happening, and I was really bitter. But I kept hearing Dad’s words ringing in my ears, “You can allow this to make you bitter or better.”
I allowed my reaction and feelings to be what they were. No one else allowed it, I did it. We have control over our emotions. Dad was encouraging me to see this in a positive way, not a negative way. He wanted me to grow from what I was experiencing, and become a better person because of it. Being better meant growth in the black, where bitter meant setbacks in the red.
My brother and I were so fortunate to grow up with a man who showed us what Jesus is like, just by the way he lived his life. He loved our mom, second only to Jesus. He had an incredible work ethic, and he taught us the value of character and integrity, just by being honest. I loved visiting Dad at his office, especially as I got older and would come home from college, because you could just see the way people loved him. He was never demeaning to secretaries or anyone for that matter.. Dad spoke to the janitor the same way he spoke to his colleagues or boss: with kindness and respect. (And humor!)
My brother and I will likely never know the number of people our parents have helped. You know why? Because they do not feel the need to boast about it. They don’t talk about the number of people they love to show Jesus to them … they just do it. And they do it, effortlessly.
“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:35 NLT)
Happy Birthday, Dad. Thank you for teaching me to try and live my life "in the black." For teaching me to be positive, not negative. Better, not bitter. Thank you for the way you have always lived your life; loving others so well, it is easy to tell you belong to Jesus! I love you so very much!