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Memoirs
Excerpt from THE FAITH OF MY FATHER
An essay in Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven
and What They Continue to Teach Us
Sharon Tabor Warren
My entire life is filled with things my father taught me: patriotism, integrity, solid work ethic, sense of humor and love of books are just a few. Recently, another tenet was brought to mind in a roundabout manner. It wasn't that I'd forgotten his teaching; it was simply that I lived it each day in a subconscious way.
Dad had an abiding faith that he lived, in today's jargon, 24/7. It was as much a part of him as his silver-white hair and twinkling blue eyes, his love of a good story and his khaki trousers. We always attended church and its various functions; we never considered playing hooky. I have to admit that many years of my adult life, I didn't go to church as I should have but Dad never commented on my lapses.
 In our current church we have one member who likes to tell us what a good Christian he is. He related a story one morning of fixing a heater for a customer after his normal store hours because the temperatures were to drop overnight. I thought it was nice of him to do it but I wouldn't have bothered to stand in front of the congregation and tell the tale as an example of my Christianity. I probably wouldn't have bothered to ever tell the story; to me it would have been no more than holding a door open for someone - something as natural as breathing.
Dad taught me that you perform these little decencies- the catchword now is "random acts of kindness" - and you don't brag about them or expect praise. Your rewards will be in the good feeling you have for having helped. Perhaps some day someone will help you out at a time of need, or you'll simply have more stars in your crown....
Our Fathers Who Art In Heaven and What They Continue to Teach Us (ISBN 0-9759057-1-6) PB is available for $17.95. To order, call 1-866-639-2443 or visit http://www.murak.blogs.com/ourfatherswhoartinheaven.
Contact Sharon.
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