Conversation With My Father

Conversation With My Father

Recently I took my dad out for lunch, unlike the usual lunch that I have with him, this particular one has been fresh in my mind since than... and I can't help it but to keep thinking of the conversation I had with him...

My dad and I always have interesting conversations... politics, history, literature, global issues are normal topics with my dad and especially over dinner table! It is so normal for dad and I to discuss over dinner how to get an opinion about some global issue to President Obama :) And usually our conversations will end up with fights as both dad and I are strong opinion minded and we will not compromise on our views on issues...

While we were having that 'particular lunch', we were discussing today's Euro Crisis and China's economy situation and how if we are not ahead of time,  these two gonna mess up all our lives real soon... and suddenly dad said something that I never would have anticipated coming from him... he said. " the biggest mistake my generation made was to sell all our lands and houses to educate our children...", I was stunned, he continued, "education is not a bad thing, but just because you have a paper qualification that doesn't mean you have to trade your life to an office... ". For the first time, I was so speechless in front of my dad and I saw the sadness in his eyes...

You see my dad, who is the eldest boy among his 11 siblings never had a formal education. He had to take care of cows and goats at a very young age to help his parents feed everyone at home. He always said, at an age I am suppose to take a pencil and book and run to school, I took a grass cutter and went to the fields to cut grass to feed my siblings... My dad use to stand outside a school while cutting grass and learned to write and read...

I remember well, while growing up, my dad's only mission was to make sure every child gets education. He has been a great believer in education. He always spoke about how education will set us free... Later part of his life, my dad actually sat for external exams and became a teacher in his estate so that he can directly impact children's education in estates.

Many nights as a kid, I watched my dad sharpening pencils, collecting books, school uniforms, shoes for children whose parents couldn't do that for them... I have also seem him many days bring extra food to school so that the kids don't go hungry and they could focus on reading....

He always told me, the greatest wealth I can give you is your education. I want you to be strong, doesn't matter you are a girl, you must be brave to speak up anytime you want, language or lack of education should never be a hindrance in your life...

After a long pause... I looked at my dad and I told him, "for all that you have done for me, my sister, my brother, my cousins and the countless children that you helped educate.... God sent me angles in my life to help me realize I was too powerful, beyond measures to trade my education to paper qualifications and that papers to a wall and a ceiling in an office... " , "When i graduated, I didn't know what was ahead, what I was suppose to do or what I wasn't suppose to do but as you thought me well, I was never afraid to learn and my education never stopped at my University... In fact dad, it just began when i started working..."

My dad didn't say anything but the sadness in his eyes was slowly replaced with a sense of pride and hope... While we continued eating I secretly said a prayer.....

Dear Lord, 

I thank you for my dad... all that he thought me in my life...  

I know my dad has always wanted me to make a difference and that's how I want to spend the rest of my life... I want to be able to help every younger generation that comes out of school with so much of hope what tomorrow has to offer, I want to help to educate them, not to fit in but to stand out and excel in life... yes, stand out and be a Star! 

Lord, I also want to go down to the grass root and help children with the right education... I don't know when, where and how but I just want to help kids understand the right education...  help me Lord, guide me... in You, I surrender... Thank you.

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