For The Fathers No Longer With Us, June 18, 2006

Father's Day is a day of celebration for many families across the country. A day of gifts, meals, and time spent in the company of loved ones. For those of us whose fathers who have passed on, it is also a day of reflection. Reflection of good times and times not so good. Reflection on lessons taught and learned. It's a day of hope.....hoping that we have turned out the way that they hoped we would and hoping that somewhere they are smiling in approval of the way we turned out with their teachings. And it is also a day of wishing......wishing for just one more opportunity to say the things we didn't say nearly enough when they were with us.

I lost my father sevral years back in an on the job accident. He was a carrier for the U-S Postal Service. He was a relatively quite man who taught things to me not by his words, but by his actions. He was always mindful of those around him too, especially if they needed help. The day of his death was no expection. In the process of delivering mail to an elderly lady with a broken hip who lived alone on his route, his car was struck broadside and knocked into a tree as he turned into her driveway...................................... That was my dad, always going that extra mile for just about everybody and always trying to do the right thing. Always trying to teach us kids by his actions, for those always speak much louder than the loudest words. Even if the end result is not always what we expect. In a world full of men that speak way too much but have nothing to say, it many times are the quiet ones that have the biggest impact on those around them. My dad was one of the quiet ones. For that I love my dad more than any number of words could convey. Thanks Dad! I couldn't do what I do today without you! I love you!!!!

For all the fathers who are no longer with us, this from another online friend is for you. Know that you'll never be forgotten!

Dad's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail,

Her favorite dress tied with a bow.

Today was Daddy's Day at school,

And she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,

That she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand,

If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't there
Today.

But still her mother worried,

For her to face this day alone.

And that was why once again,

She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school

Eager to tell them all.

About a dad she never sees;

A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, for
Everyone to meet.

Children squirming impatiently,

Anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called a student from the
Class. To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly
Passed.

At last the teacher called her name,

Every child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching,

For a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"

She heard a boy call out.

"She probably doesn't have one,"

Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,

She heard a daddy say,

"Looks like another deadbeat dad,

Too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,

As she smiled up at her Mom.

And looked back at her teacher,

Who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,

Slowly she began to speak.

And out from the mouth of a child,

Came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,

Because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes he could be,

Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,

I wanted you to know.

All about my daddy,

And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories

He taught me to ride my bike.

He surprised me with pink roses,

And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,

And ice cream in a cone.

And though you cannot see him.

I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,

Even though we are apart

I know because he told me,

He'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,

And lay across her chest.

Feeling her own heartbeat,

Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads, her
Mother stood in tears.

Proudly watching her daughter,

Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love

Of a man not in her life.

Doing what was best for her,

Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring
Straight into the crowd.

She finished with a voice so soft,

But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,

he's my shining star.

And if he could, he'd be here,

But heaven's just too far

You see he was a firefighter

And died just this past year

When airplanes hit the towers

And taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,

it's like he never went away."

And then she closed her eyes,

And she saw him there that day.

And to her mothers amazement,

She witnessed with surprise

A room full of daddies and children,

All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,

Who knows what they felt inside.

Perhaps for merely a second,

They saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy,"

To the silence she called out.

And what happened next made believers,

Of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,

for each of their eyes had been closed.

But there on the desk beside her,

was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,

by the love of her shining star.

And given the gift of believing,

that heaven is never too far.

(originally posted 6-18-06 on Yahoo 360)