Let the Tool do the Work

Towards the end of my fathers life I came to disrespect him. Which is very sad for a son to say about his Dad. He had qualities. Everyone does. I would hope. But for me the bad qualities out-weighed the good; and it troubles me to say that. I have problems when analising his faults. Because the minute I criticise him....for whatever fault.....I flinch a bit...because I can see the fault in me. I have tried hard most of my adult life to be NOT like my father. But he was my father!!! Whether I wanted them or not I was a recipient of his genes. So if I want to describe him as a bully, a self-opinionated,  stuffed up pseudo-intellectual.........and I cringe and cringe when I do.......yet what am I?????? Have I ever bullied someone to convince them that I am right..............I spend loads of time being a self-opinionated, pseudo intellectual. Playing out the role that my father cast me in.
Let's move on
One thing my Dad did for me, in a huge way, was to give me an immense trust and understanding in tools. He had a tool shed with all the different sized chisels and awls set out in rows etc. and he showed me how to use and appreciate each tool and maximise what it was capable of doing. He said again and again "Let the tool do the work"
In other words don't push it beyond it's capabilities. OR YOU WILL BREAK IT
I have a couple of local buddies here who like to come and help me with my garden. I arrived back here from the gym the other morning and they were trying to dig out a frost battered Yucca stump and they were using my Deal-handled spade. and I thought Aaaagghhh not wise!!!  Sure enough. It got reported to me later that morning, that there had been a casualty. The spade broke!!
What did I feel?
Like my father.
Intellectually superior!!
No
Sad
Yes
Opinionated?
I knew it would happen!!
The minute I saw them using it.
I knew what they would do.
Bless you Dad!!
Bless You