I learned how to accept life as it

I learned how to accept life as it is from my father. However, he did not teach me acceptance when he was strong and healthy, but when he was weak and ill.My father was once a strong man who loved being active, but a terrible illness took all that away. Now he cannot walk any more, and he must sit quietly in a chair all day, even talking is helpless One night, I went to visit him with my sisters. We started talking about life, andi told them about one thing I believe in.I said that we must very often give things up as we grow-our youth, our beauty, our friends-but it always needs that after we give something up, we get something new in its place. Then suddenly my father spoke up. He said, "But, Peter. I gaveup everything!What did I get? "I thought and thought, but I could not think of anything to say.Surprisingly, he answered his ownquestion. "I got the love of my family. "I looked at my sisters, and saw them crying, along with hope and thankfulness. I was also moved by his words. After that, when I began to feel angry at someone, I would remember his words and become calm.He could replace his great sadness with a feeling of love for others, then I should be ableto give up my small anger. In this way, I learned the power of acceptance from my father.Sometimes I wonder what other things I could learn from him if I had listened more carefully when I was a boy.For now, I am thankful for this gift.