A Father's Testimony

Father's Day was tender for me.

My father is not a man of many words. Though, every now and then he surprises my mother and I with pearls of wisdom that we usually haven't considered before.

At sacrament meeting, he stood up to bear testimony, regarding his life and the Lord's hand in it. It was moving for me.

Having lived in the Philippines for quite some time, they valued the single orange they earned, splitting it between themselves. My father made the comment, "my kids can't even finish a whole apple." My father's life at that time was one of poverty.

Then, moving to Australia, his father earned a living as a Chef in a Chinese restaurant. He made sacrifices of time and energy to place food on the table for his family.

My father expressed a deep and profound gratitude for the sacrifices his father made for him and his family.

I pondered on the level of sacrifice I live in my life.

After church, we visited my father's father's grave. We all left words of gratitude and love. It was sweet to know him during his mortal life. We committed to have his work done in the temple.

As I ponder on the sacrifices those before me, I really feel I am taking my life for granted. I should be giving more of myself.

I also know, though, that they made their sacrificial struggles in the hope that their descendants wouldn't need to do the same.

I pray the grace of God empowers me to achieve higher and better things.