All
parents teach their children — consciously, subconsciously, positively,
negatively, by example, by word. Children are even taught be what their
parents FAIL to teach. In our generation, many parents have abdicated
their teaching roles to TV, schools, their children's peers, and other
influences. I am thankful to have had parents who cared enough to teach
me right from wrong and how to live. May I share with you some of the
things they taught me:
1. Righteous Living.
This was more by example than by word. My parents did not set the
example of smoking. I never saw a can of beer in their hands, nor was
any kind of alcohol kept in the house. I never heard a word of profanity
fall from their lips, nor did I ever see them go about in shorts,
swimsuits, or other forms of immodest dress. This has had its influence
upon me, and I am thankful that I do not even know what beer tastes
like, nor have I ever owned a pair of shorts, etc.
2. Discipline.
Discipline takes many forms, both positive and negative. My parents
loved me enough to apply the hand, the belt, and the switch when
necessary. They loved me enough to teach me the discipline of
responsibility in making my own bed, mowing the lawn, washing the car,
and I learned early how to operate a vacuum cleaner. My first job was a
paper route somewhere along about the sixth grade.
Discipline
is also a part of the rule of self-ruling our attitudes, emotions, will.
I will ever be grateful for a valuable lesson I learned from my father
during the difficult times when the Lord's church was being divided over
institutionalism. During this period my father was the editor of a
religious journal, the Gospel Guardian, was thus somewhat of a public
figure, and was the target of much abuse from some with whom he
differed. He was lied about, cheated in some business arrangements,
reviled, had meetings canceled, and was abused in various other ways.
Never once did I see my father display anger or a spirit of revenge and
retaliation. Never once did he abuse his position as editor to lash back
at his detractors. I am thankful for this lesson in self-discipline.
3. Love for God and His Church.
I never remember missing a service for some school
activity, or for home work, or for a date, or for company. I was taught
to put God and his kingdom first. Not only did we regularly attend the
local congregation of which we were members, but we often went to gospel
meetings in other places where there were opportunities to meet other
preachers and to make friends among the young people of other
congregations.
4. Thrift and Economy.
Preachers were not always supported as well as they are
in many places today, and we had some lean times. I can remember the
time my father preached for one of the largest congregations in the
land. One of the elders was an oil millionaire who told my father that
his philosophy in business was to buy the very best product at the
lowest possible price. He felt the same responsibility to the church —
to get the very best preaching possible for the lowest possible salary.
During this time we sold our only car in order to meet debts. I do not
remember feeling ashamed to walk to church or to ride the bus around
town.
My mother
has always been a saving person, even to the point of saving burnt
matches. Our gas cooking stove had pilot lights that automatically
ignited the top burners, but the oven still had to be lighted with a
match. I still remember my mother lighting the oven with a match and
then quickly blowing it out. The next time, she would take that burnt
match, stick it into the pilot light to ignite it, and then use it to
light the oven. This may be a bit extreme in saving, but it made an
impression on my young mind.
5. Hospitality — both to friends and strangers.
My mother has always been an excellent cook and we were glad to share
her skills with others. As a child in Chicago, I remember a hungry tramp
coming to our door and my mother fixing him a meal. I don't know if that
was my first lesson in helping those who were in need, but it is the
first I remember. A few years later in Oklahoma City we took into our
home a young couple injured in an auto accident until they recuperated
enough to continue on their journey. There were others who lived in our
home — women whose husbands were off in World War II, unwed mothers who
needed a home for a time, and young bachelors who boarded with us to be
a part of a family of Christians. How precious to me are the memories of
the many fine Christians who have been in our home and my contacts with
countless preachers of the gospel whose lives have also touched mine.
How I treasure the years my dear Grandmother Tant made her home with us
and the valuable lessons I learned from her.
Yes, my
parents taught me . . . these and many other things. Thank you,
Mother... Thank you, Papa. Because of these lessons I believe I have a
confident hope of an eternal home, and I have tried to share these
things with your grandchildren. I am not very good at expressing my deep
feelings for those who are closest to me, but I hope these words can in
some small way express my love for Fanning Yater Tant and Helen
Elizabeth Gotto Tant. I consider myself fortunate to have been your son.
May God bless you as you continue to serve him in the sunset years of
life. -
Vangard, Nov 1982
Other Articles by
Jefferson David Tant
Let It Go
Why Marriages Fail
Is "Once Saved, Always Saved" a Bible Doctrine?
Immodest Dress
When Do the Tears Stop?
Studies by David Tant at the University church of Christ