Sunday, January 11, 2009

“I can’t do it” : By Cody


I learned a great lesson from dad many years ago while putting together that beautiful 8-car garage in the backyard. Dad asked me to hang the light fixtures that would later hold the fluorescent lights bulbs. I remember struggling to hang them. I was young, the fixtures were heavy, and I was standing on a wobbly ladder. After a while, I got frustrated and said, “I can’t do it.” To this dad sternly replied, “I want you to take the word ‘can’t’ out of your vocabulary! You can do anything you put your mind to! If you need help, ask for help, but don’t use the word can’t.” At the time, I was rather ticked off by dad’s response to me, but I have since learned that he is right. With dad’s help (he held the ladder) I was able to hang the tube holders.

I am often inspired when I think of my old man who builds hot rods, improves his house, and does many other things that most men would never attempt to do. In fact, while serving a mission in Nauvoo, dad memorized what he was supposed to say for his tours by having mom read the script into a tape recorder. Dad would then get up at 4:30 in the morning and listen to the script over and over until he had it memorized. Dad was so good at doing his tours that friends told me they didn’t know he was blind until they spoke with him after they had finished the tour. Yes I know, dad often needs help, but that does not stop him from trying or believing that he can do something.

Now when the words, “I can’t” enter my mind, I think of the lesson I learned a long time ago from dad. Today, I truly believe that with the Lord’s help, we can do anything that the Lord wants us to do.

1 comment:

Braddon said...

Being your neighbor for many years and also having the opportunity to live with your family for while I have to say that your father was inspirational to me as well. He never stopped amazing me in what he accomplished and tried to do when many of us without any sort of disability would just give up. Yes, he could be a hard nose to work with but I enjoyed my time being able to work with him on projects and the motivation he'd provide.