A Letter to Daddy

In the home where I grew up, reading was greatly encouraged; these were the days before PlayStation, Nintendo and the like.

My dad actually bought a set of encyclopaedias that had information on just about anything; you couldn’t “Ask Google” when I was growing up, it didn’t exist!

But the three books I enjoyed most in the whole set were those written specifically for children. They opened with two letters;

“A letter to my parents by a little boy” and “A letter to my dad by a little girl”; and so as Father’s Day approaches this is my letter to fathers from a not-so-little girl.

I love little kids; they are so so trusting;

They aren’t yet jaded or disillusioned by this turbulent world in which we live.

I love watching little girls, skipping along without a care in the world beside their dads.

I love watching little boys, trying to match their strides to that of their dads; without saying any words, that little boy is telling the world that daddy is his role model.

Have you seen the faces of babies being thrown up in the air by their fathers?

That face wreathed in smiles; that look that says its daddy, he will catch me.

My son grew up believing he had flying super powers; Eagle boy, that’s what he called himself;

I can still hear his dad’s voice in my ears cheering him on;

Awhile ago we were reminiscing as a family and our son, now a young adult said he actually believed he could fly, because daddy said so!

Thank you daddies for being our safety net, the wind beneath our sails, our heroes and role models, in a world so sorely lacking in heroes and role models especially in the things that truly matter for now and eternity.

Daddy to the defence

My dad, tall huge with an imposing figure, He was strict & stern, but one thing was sure, you knew he had your back;

Once a teacher turned around and accused my sister of stealing a book, because my sister, (who had been brought up to be courteous, especially to her elders), helped her carry a stack of books to her table and one of the books went missing.

Just the sight of my dad walking into her Year 6 class to defend her integrity is something my sister hasn’t forgotten many decades after.

Much as daddy was a very busy man, and didn’t seem to be “there” in our lives, nothing got past him; if ever I wore a new outfit he was quick to notice and ask “where did you get that?” (It earned him the title of “eagle-eye daddy, albeit silently in my mind);

He only stopped asking when I started working as an intern and was earning an income.

To every daddy who is the rock behind his brood and also keen-eyed to keep them on the straight and narrow, I salute you.

To every man who stays in “life’s boxing ring”, and takes all the punches that life throws at you, thank you for all your sacrifice, you have my respect.

I came across the story (and video) of Derek Redmond as his dad Jim Redmond supports him to finish his 400m semi final race at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics; as he hobbled down the track, having torn his hamstring.

The security tried to stop Jim, but the father in him was having none of it!

When he got to his son he said “you don’t have to do this”,

“Yes, I do” Derek replied;

“Well then” said his dad; we’re going to finish this together”.

This story has been used time and time again to teach courage and what the Olympic spirit is all about;

But what I see is a father, who more than anything, will “come hell or high water” support his son in the good times and in the bad.

For every dad who supports his child’s dream, when it’s convenient, and especially when it is not, I doff my cap, you have my respect.

There’s an old saying that says, “Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime”.

It takes sacrifice in these days and times to equip a man to “fish”;

It takes time and effort (emotional, spiritual, psychological, financial and what have you).

For the last 9 years, my husband has given everything and then some more, to give our son the best start in life, so that he can step out into the world with confidence, equipped to “fish”;

To the man FFA, I can only say thank you. Thank you for living a life of example, so your children biological and otherwise can see that this “faith of our fathers” is the living faith by which a man should live; of a truth you have committed yourself to God’s word and taught it to your children. Deuteronomy 11:18-19

For every man who has gone over and beyond to equip their children to “fish”, I doff my cap; thank you for all the sacrifices.

For every man out there who goes to work each day to put food on the table and keep a roof over your family’s head;

To every man who stays in “life’s boxing ring”, and takes all the punches that life throws at you, thank you for all your sacrifice, you have my respect.

One last word

I know society (whatever that is) says “men don’t cry”, so through all life’s trials daddies you keep a stiff upper lip, and you hide your emotions behind being distant.

Dad, I will not think less of you, because you “breathe and feel” like me;

So daddy it is okay to show me that you care,

It is okay to show me that you hurt,

It is okay to cry, when something; someone touches you deeply

In that place where you show your emotions,

You release me to be human,

And I realise that who you are, and what you are, is not unattainable,

I can aspire to be you.

So as we celebrate Father’s Day in 2021

Daddies we see you;

Your faith

Your sacrifice

Your hard work

Your giving of yourself time and time again

Thank you for being our defence in this tough, harsh world;

Each time we look into your face and see how you believe in us,

We know we can achieve.

Happy father’s day

To all fathers and grandfathers

Single fathers, being both mum and dad

Fathers in waiting

And to every man with a father’s heart.

I’d love to hear from you, so send in your comments or send in an email. Let’s talk!

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See you soon

Abimbola