What Makes A Dad
God took the strength of a mountain
The majesty of a tree
The warmth of a summer sun
The calm of a quiet sea
The generous soul of nature
The comforting arm of night
The wisdom of the ages
The power of the eagle's flight
The joy of a morning in spring
The faith of a mustard seed
The patience of eternity
The depth of a family need
Then God combined these qualities
When there was nothing more to add
He knew His masterpiece was complete
And so, He called it ... Dad
A Father's Love
Though the feeling's always there,
But somehow those three little words
Are the hardest ones to share.
And fathers say "I love you"
In ways that words can't match
With tender bedtime stories
Or a friendly game of catch!
You can see the words "I love you"
In a father's boyish eyes
When he runs home, all excited,
With a poorly wrapped surprise.
A father says "I love you"
With his strong helping hands
With a smile when you're in trouble
With the way he understands.
He says "I love you" haltingly,
With awkward tenderness
It's hard to help a four-year-old
into a party dress!
He speaks his love unselfishly
By giving all he can
To make some secret dream come true,
Or follow through a plan.
A father's seldom-spoken love
Sounds clearly through the years
Sometimes in peals of laughter,
Sometimes through happy tears.
Perhaps they have to speak their love
In a fashion all their own.
Because the love that fathers feel
Is too big for words alone!
Dad
So many images come to mind
whenever I speak your name;
It seems without you in my life
things will never be the same.
What happened to those lazy days
when I was just a child;
When my life was consumed in you
in your love, and in your smile.
What happened to all those times
when I always looked to you;
No matter what happened in my life
you could make my gray skies blue.
Dad, some days I hear your voice
and turn to see your face;
Yet in my turning ... it seems
the sound has been erased.
Dad, who will I turn to for answers
when life does not make sense;
Who will be there to hold me close
when the pieces just don't fit.
Oh, Dad, if I could turn back time
and once more hear your voice;
I'd tell you that out of all the dads
you would still be my choice.
Please always know I love you
and no one can take your place;
Years may come and go
but your memory will never be erased.
Today, Lord are you listening
in your heavenly home above;
Would you go and find my dad
and give him all my love.
It's been 17 years since my father died and there isn't
a week that goes by without me passing his picture in my photo gallery
and saying "Hello Dad, I miss you". I know he hears my whispered words
and smiles down upon me from his heavenly place of honor.
Dad was a Navy man through and through. He loved to take out his
album of mementos from WW II and show us the medals he won, the
places he visited and the fun he had running into his brothers-in law
during his stop in Italy and France.
Dad was delighted when I was born and he chose my name, making
it that much more special for me. I recall the stories of his Navy exploits,
of going AWOL to see mom after she gave birth.
It was long into my adulthood when I finally became true friends
with my dad but the bond we developed was strong and made up for the
awkward years when it was hard for me to talk to him as a father.
He had a difficult time with his health and nearly died several times
from complications in his heart, lungs and kidneys.
But in the end, he went peacefully, in his sleep and for that I am thankful.
I love you Dad. You will always be in my heart.
Your daughter, Rita
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Pinning a carnation to Dad's lapel on my wedding day
. . .She'll change her name today.
She'll make a promise,
and I'll give her away.
Standing in the bride room
just staring at her,
she asked me what I'm thinking,
and I said "I'm not sure,
I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl."
Then she leaned over ... and gave me
Butterfly
kisses...
