Things I’m Grateful For: My Parents
My Dad
My parents are first generation Mexican Americans. My father was raised by a single mom after his father passed away from cancer. He wasn’t even a year old.
Of course the loss of my Grandpa Guevara affected my dad’s life. One of the effects was the decision that his family would only speak to him in English – because they didn’t want him to be behind in school.
His mom, my grandma, was born in the United States. Her family traveled to Illinois in search of work during the Depression. Eventually, she met my Grandpa. After he passed away, she wouldn’t remarry until my Dad was in high school. She had no other children.
My father struggled in school. He was drafted for Vietnam shortly before the war ended and joined the Navy. When he came home he took a help yourself reading course and graduated from business school and became a CPA.
My Mom
My mom’s childhood was different. She was the 10th of 11 kids. Her dad, my Grandpa Juarez, fled Mexico after his father was murdered for speaking out against the government.
My grandpa walked across the border. He got a job, met his wife, and started a family. He waited for decades before choosing to become an American citizen.
My mom was an excellent student, and is bilingual. She was the first in her family to graduate from college, and spent her career as a registered nurse, all while raising a family and having four children.
My Parents – Growing up
My parents grew up in strict households and developed strong work ethics. The path they took to find each other wasn’t straight. Providence rarely is.
They were strict disciplinarians, taking Proverbs 13:24 literally. I was taught to do one thing, do it very well and then do the next thing,” and that the Lord tells us to “do justice and love mercy.
They wanted us to get good educations and picked schools that did a good job on that front. I learned to love reading and writing stories. I got good grades all through high school and college.
They taught me how to work hard. When my brother and I asked for an allowance, they suggested we start a business. And we did.
They made sure we learned about music. I took piano lessons and learned how to play the saxophone. Most importantly, they taught me how to sing. I love them for giving me the gift of music.
Most importantly, they taught me to have faith. Their faith was a constant in my life through all the ups and downs. And when I was ready to become a Christian, my mom led me to the Lord.
Closing
At the end of the day, my parents taught me how to grow as a person and as a man, to learn from my mistakes, to be accountable for my actions, and to demand the most from myself. Who could ask for anything more?
