GORDON QUIRING of Hampton

Nominated by Alicia Davis of Hastings, who wrote:

Most people probably wouldn't describe a small farmer living outside a village in Nebraska, with only a high school education, driving a twenty-year old car with over 200,000 miles as a "success story", but my dad has taught me that how you live your life is much more important than what you accomplish in the eyes of the world.

Although his bank account doesn't reflect it, my dad is a world-class investor. He has invested 100% of himself in things that really matter--building his relationship with Jesus Christ and sharing the love of Christ with his family and friends.

Lots of people say that their families are their top priorities, but it is another thing to actually live in a manner that reflects that ideal. My dad is a daily example of the definition of love set out so clearly in I Corinthians 13. Self-sacrifice is so ingrained in his nature that I honestly don't know if he realizes how much he has given up for his family.

My dad's sacrifices for his family won't make the headlines, but it is his consistency in doing all of the small things that makes him shine. For example, as a child, I was honored on many occasions when, during the hectic harvest season, my dad was the only dad in the crowd at my volleyball games. When I was in college, my dad would drop everything for a day to take me out to eat when I was feeling down. He never made it seem like an inconvenience.

I think that the love and respect that my sisters and I have for our dad speaks volumes about his character. When my twin sister and I were growing up, our dad never had to discipline us. We respected him and his judgment so much that we never wanted to disappoint him. We knew that he was acting with patience and compassion and always had our best interests in mind. The same holds true for my teenage sister. In a phase of life when most kids are trying to distance themselves from their parents, she is proud to go to the movies with our dad.

As much as I respected my father when I was growing up, I think I have an even greater appreciation for him now. Having children of my own, I know how difficult it is to be a parent. I thank God continually that I have a father who models Christ's love and I pray that I will be able to do the same for my children.

The biggest compliment that I ever receive is when someone tells me that I reflect my father's personality traits and mannerisms. For I know that if I am displaying those traits, I am also living as an example of our heavenly Father.

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