I've written many times about Hubert Mills and every time, I come away with a new appreciation for the man I called my dad.
Oh yes, he wasn't without flaws but I think one of the beauty's of life at times is even with the flaws, one can create legacy moments and we are certainly the beneficiaries of his legacy.
One can create legacy moments and we are certainly the beneficiaries of his legacy.
Even though it is 18 plus years that he's been gone, I still see his fingerprints in my life.
This Forward Friday tells a little more of the guy I called dad and as it's Father's Day weekend, I thought I'd reminisce about some things that made Hubert Austin Mills pretty special!!
Let's Get Into This And Happy Father's Day To All The Dads! We Need you more than ever to be who you were called and destined to be!!!!
Hubert Was A Wise Man!
I can recall one day, some of my buddies were over eating, playing and having a good time when one of the guys went into the kitchen and started talking with dad and asking dad questions about life.
I still think that most of my friends would come over to the house, not for Keith and I but to see and hang out with my parents.
What I remember most about that little sequence of time is not so much the wisdom dad dispensed but how he didn't judge the questions, my buddy asking the question but he turned the questions into a discussion and gave him food for thought.
It provoked more questions about all sorts of topics/issues at later times when my friends were over.
Dad had this uncanny ability to be able to hold on to his own thoughts, build up the ones asking the questions/searching for stability and give them something to think about on the way out. Highly skilled, what a guy!
Hubert Was Industrious
Maybe because it was because of his background in carpentry but dad was a genius at making something almost out of nothing or saving money and making whatever that thing was he wanted/needed and was so creative.
2 Stories:
1. I had a very jumpy disposition (code for: I could get way too excited when I was upset) and my grade 5 teacher decided to call my folks in for a meeting.
Long story short, they figured not only did I need long walks when I was frustrated but I also needed to hit something. I said something and not someone.
Dad remembered seeing a broken tennis racket in our neighbor's yard. We went home, he asked if he could take it, he put it back together again even better than it was originally crafted.
Not only did it help me gain a grip on my emotions so that by the time I got to high school, I was better able to handle the hassles there, I also fell in love with the game of tennis and played quite actively for many years! Good job Dad!!
2. Dad had been wanting to get a console for the stereo system but the prices were sky high too expensive.
One Thursday evening as it was our custom, we were downtown shopping. We were in the electronics dept. and dad was looking at this console. It was gorgeous. Dad was drawing or sketching on a piece of paper. I asked if he was buying it and he said no.
Thought that was the end of it until I got home from school 4 days later and low and behold, in the dining room was the console I saw at the store.
I said, So you bought it after all?" Dad said almost sheepishly, "No, I made it!" No big deal, no fanfare but the splitting image right down to the varnish and texture. Dad was that good! What a guy!
Dad Took Time For People
I do not know the many nights we would be sleeping on chairs in the basement of the church because my parents were spending time with people or at our house or on the street but that's exactly what they did.
The most heartwarming story of dad taking time for people was after the funeral service/cemetery for dad, a lady came over to tell me a story.
She had been in Montreal with her sister 6 months when her apartment building went up in flames. Total loss.
A week later, they found a new place and moved in what little they had.
A knock came to the door one evening about 10 days later. Dad and another gentleman heard about their misfortune, went and bought them a new fridge and stove. No fanfare, no big deal made about it, there was a need and dad figured out a way to take the time to meet those sisters in their time of crisis. What a guy!!
Dad was a mischievous guy too... He'd drive mom crazy with pranks all the time. Remember those rubber alligators? He had a few around the house and when mom would nod off in the lazy boy, he'd put it on her shoulder and tell her something was on her shoulder. Of course, you know it, mom jumped 10 feet and dad would howl.
He could have almost burned the house down with one prank. Let's just say, rolling up a newspaper, lighting it and then waving it in mom's face was not the most all time great idea, especially when she woke up in a fright, knocked the lit paper on to the carpet!!
We had a 2 plus foot gash in the carpet and you guessed it, we never let him forget it but he laughed and laughed. Dad could laugh and have some fun! What a guy!!!
Dad could laugh and have some fun! What a guy!!!
Good Medicine Moments
Probably more than anything, I'm so glad and grateful that dad was a godly man. Not a perfect man but a godly one.
I think of how fortunate we were to see him in his life, warts and all but he had a bedrock faith, deep devotion that was contagious. He showed sacrifice, love, concern, hope, was a prayerful man, had the courage to hold to his convictions without compromise.
When I think of the legacy of my dad, he was these things and so much more but I'll leave with these final thoughts.
Although he was my Dad, he was also my friend, not a buddy, but a true genuine friend and that grew as I got older. Loved to ask him stuff and he showed me in word and deed that Jesus could and would be my friend if I made that choice. Thankful....
Dad was definitely an authority in my life and helped to direct my steps and mold me into the person God wanted me to be. And by his example, I could see and come to understand that God is the final author of my life. The Bible says He is the author and finisher of my life.
Dad was Truthful; I never had reason to doubt his word or world. I would ask him for advice and I knew he would always tell me the truth. And by his example, I learned that there is one who is the absolute Truth and that one is Jesus – and then found out for myself. I found that the Good book is truth; it can be trusted and we need never doubt what He tells us.
Dad was my hero!! He could do no wrong or most of the time. I could run to my dad and talk it out. He protected me and surrounded me with his love giving me strength to go on. He always encouraged me to do right. He was there for me whenever I needed him. Dad also showed me that Jesus too could be my hero, my protector, my strength, my hiding place. He never leaves me nor forsakes me.
Dad was my Encourager. He always encouraged me to do right even when it wasn't convenient. He was diligent to encourage me in following God for myself and showed me that Jesus was/is the best encourager. If I am depressed, discouraged, in a tough situation, . . . I can go to His Good Book anytime and find the encouragement I need.
Dad Was A Rock For Me! He stood firm in what he believed and I felt safe letting that rock hold me up. What a blessed legacy that is! Dad also showed me that Jesus is my eternal Rock on which I can always feel safe and secure, even more secure than Dad's legacy.
So 18 plus years later, I still miss the talks, the banter, the ideas, the jokes, the wisdom of a high school/bible college grad but his legacy is firmly entrenched in my life and I also believe in the lives of others!
Funny, so many things make sense now that I have a little more perspective on the man they call Hubert! What a Guy!
Father's day legacy moments....
Walking that road
Dave
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