The Value of Work (Thanks Dad)

Last Sunday I read yet another thought-provoking column by Ben Stein, entitled “When You Weren’t Looking, They Were Working“. Ben wrote about his father, and how he didn’t realize how well he had benefited from his Dad’s hard work until after his passing. Consequently, he exhorts us to express our thanks to our parents while they are still here to hear it.

He puts it this way: “Get it in your heads that if you throw away your moral duties to your parents, you are thieves. You were born on third base and your parents put you there, and you think you hit a triple. It’s not true. It’s time to give back.”

These words lingered in my head for days after I read them,  because they rang so true for me.   My parents did put me on third base, because they had worked so hard to make sure I got there.   And I am so grateful to the both of them.

My father essentially worked 7 days a week in two jobs to support us, and he taught me a lot about the value of work.  It was a means to an end- the support of a family, in particular - but there were bigger lessons for me.   Lessons of determination,  sacrifice,  nobility, and above all else, love.

So on this Father’s Day,  I dedicate this post to my Dad,  who worked so hard to make sure I had all the opportunities I desired.  Thank you, and much love always.