Father's Day

Once a year, people all across the world dedicate a day towards fathers.  In the USA that day was yesterday.  In honor to father’s everywhere I dedicate this blog post to my father.

Leslie Howard Jensen, age 56, was born many years ago in a place not too far from where I grew up.  He is the father of five boys, the husband of a wonderful woman, and recently retired from teaching elementary school for three decades.  Not liking either his first or middle name, he simply goes by Les.  In his case Les is more.  Much, much more. 

Here is a short list of some of my most memorable moments spent with my father.

·      Playing horse in our driveway.  I spent hours trying to figure out how to beat him.  I would try some of the craziest shots possible, and he would consistently make jump shots.

·      The fact that he was always there throughout all of my running years.  He went to track meets, cross-country races, and almost all my practices in high school.

·      I will never forget the times when I got caught doing something wrong and I would go hide in my room with the lights off and pretend to sleep.  My dad would come in and tell me how much I meant to him.  It broke my heart to know I disappointed him, but his example of love is one I will never forget.

·      Going to the Houston Rockets game with my dad when I broke my back was amazing.  Probably, still my favorite sporting event I have ever attended (and that includes an International soccer game, Jimmer’s 52 points, and countless others.)

·      When he laid his hands on my head and ordained me to the office of Elder in the Melchezidek priesthood.  A strong spiritual witness of Christ grew in my heart out of that moment.

·      Working with my father at Weber State University painting dorm rooms was a lot of fun, and his diligent work ethic still impresses me.

There are many more examples of my dad’s wonderful service and love that I will never forget.  On a literary level, try to think of a father in a book you read that you really liked and then think of a father you couldn’t stand.  List what qualities you liked and disliked about each.  Give it a try.  I will post my list tomorrow.  Over and out.

This is a song in the musical Billy Elliot. Billy's father is thinking about going back to work in the mines after being on strike so that his son can audition for the Royal Ballet Academy