FATHERLY ADVICE

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 211

Ever hit a brick wall with something and just don’t know how to proceed? I bet most of us have. Tonight, I needed to get another perspective on something, one I couldn’t even get from my wife. (No, it wasn’t about her, bwa-hahaha!).

Okay, but squirrel moment—this afternoon she started nagging me about something she’s been nagging me about for weeks, and I just gave her one of those looks, ya know? We all know those looks. So, I blurted out, “My gosh, you’re such a nag!” She agreed with me, then laughingly said, “Well, it’s my job to nag you about something every day. Today it’s this, and tomorrow it’ll be something else.”

Guys, did you hear that? She gave up the ship. She let out a female “state secret” held by every woman ever since, like, the beginning of time. I hope they don’t ostracize her or string her up for telling the truth. She wasn’t even under duress. IDK. Is Jesus coming back soon? Hehehe…

Okay, back to my story. Because I just couldn’t get out of my own head about this issue, I didn’t hesitate. Without saying a word, I quietly walked down to the basement and dialed my pops. Dear old dad answered in his usual jovial way: “It’s Jason. What’s up? What are you two doing tonight?”

I replied, saying I was calling because I needed some fatherly advice. Dad got quiet rather quickly; I’ve not often asked him for his advice on this or that, so I guess I’m not surprised. Looking back, it might have saved me a bunch of heartache in life had I asked for more advice. In hindsight, I guess that’s beside the point.

For the next twenty-nine minutes, Dad and I chatted. Well… let’s be honest; I did most of the talking, and he did most of the listening. Dads can be good for that, mine especially. (My pops has always been a wonderful listener, just as his dad was before him). Three times in the conversation, my father softly repeated his advice, never veering, saying, “We too have had to follow this advice, and we think it’s saved us a bunch of heartache.”

The more I listened, the more I realized my father was right. And while I had an inkling he was gonna say what he did, just hearing it from a trusted source was exactly what I needed.

I keep thinking of the advice Solomon offered his son. David’s son wrote:

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." — Proverbs 2:1–6

For weeks now, I’ve been lamenting over this thing I’ve been alluding to, praying also to our Father in heaven. I wish God had spoken with some kind of audible boom, but that’s not His usual MO. And while the Lord hasn’t audibly given me the advice my earthly dad did, He’s given His Word. Additionally, though, I think He guided me to pick up the phone and make that call.

In the end, the advice of both my fathers aligned; and for all that, I’m grateful. I’m thankful God put the impetus within me to call my dad and just ask: “Can I get your advice?” I’m grateful for my dad’s counsel, and I’m thankful for God’s Word that says, “My son, seek wisdom and search for it like treasure.”

Thank you, Lord, for your counsel and wisdom, and for giving me a dad who has a great listening ear and a heart that cares!

Who and what are you grateful for this evening?