A Memoir of Dad
"Teach us (O LORD) to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom" - Psalm 90:12 (NIV)
There is an old wise saying that “fathers are ladders.” Why? Because their children (if wise) will learn the lessons about this journey of life from their eyes (their experiences) and seek to live better ones.
Hmmm...Dad. It is well. Dad was many things: an educator and disciplinarian; an orator and a public speaker; a teacher; a music coordinator (we had the Kanu Oji singing group and we ministered in church a few times. We also played some musical instruments and sang at home many times together); a lawyer; an accountant; an author; a businessman; an elder; and many more, but most importantly he was my father, my Dad.
Dad was a brilliant, gifted and sophisticated man. He had class and showed it. He was an excellent student and teacher of Latin. His knowledge of Latin enabled him to easily deduce the meaning of many English words by only reading or hearing them because he knew their Latin roots. Dad was the first dictionary I knew. He was rich in vocabulary, both in repertoire of words and the knowledge of their root words. He was also a very good author and wrote a couple of books and several other writings.
Dad had excellent memory and could recall birthdays of children and grandchildren or events as far back as when he was a young child with the full names of the persons he was with, the exact location where the events took place and dates! He could also easily recall historical accounts he read accurately. If in doubt on a recall of something, ask Dad! He was a gifted man.
Dad was an educator. In my younger years while in primary school, I recall some of my play times being cut-short for homework (sometimes to redo them or because I had not done them); for additional study or just for the plain instruction to go to my room and read! I started reading novels: the Hardy Boys books, Shakespeare novels and several others in junior secondary school, not because I was initially interested in these books but because Dad wanted to hear me tell the stories and so off I went to read.
Dad had a penchant for knowledge and excellence, especially academic excellence. He would have nothing less of it and demanded it from all his children. He not only demanded it but he contributed and supported that academic development. Till date my best mathematics teacher was Dad. I excelled especially in that subject from primary school, through secondary, through the university and even in the workplace. I became a graduate of electronic engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a chartered accountant in the UK and Canada to the glory of God and thanks to the foundation laid by Dad in my educational development.
Dad was a very disciplined man and worked on a schedule by the clock – waking up, bible study and prayers, eating, etc., everything had its time! I recall when I was younger my friends, who came to the house or who met him at school, thought Dad was a military man because he was very disciplined and was always on time!
Dad kept his faith in the LORD Jesus Christ and though he may not have had the “perfect” life he hoped and worked hard for, as society may unfairly judge, he remained ever grateful for the life he had and lived. He was not a perfect man (no one is) but he was a good man. A good man wishes no ill of others.
I returned from the UK in October 2017 ,after being away for a few years, and spent the days leading to the first week of December completely off work and just with Dad. Talking, laughing, sharing my plans for the coming year, chauffeuring him to some places and just spending time with him. I never knew those will be my last moments in person with him. A friend and a perfect stranger told me at different times in 2018: “Everything happens for a reason.” It may have seemed to someone else that I made a bad decision to stay off work for those months, but in hindsight it was God graciously giving me my last treasured moments with Dad.
Adieu dear Dad. May I live to become all you and Mum hoped and prayed for in Jesus’ Name, Amen. I thank God for the loads of wisdom I gained as a young man through you. Until we meet again at the LORD Jesus’ feet in times to come, I will keep the memories in my heart forever. I love you Dad.
Your Son, Nwachukwu
