Our daughter Katrina wrote this for her dad for Father’s Day. Too beautiful not to share…
Dad taught me a lot about life by how he lived it.
He taught me that treating others with dignity and respect means never refusing a pack of crackers from a starving family when you are a guest at their home. Such an extravagant gift should never be refused, my dad said, even when you feel they need it more than you do.
He taught me that compassion can sometimes mean riding a boat to an island so you can see how you can help a hundred or so kids get more books, school supplies and a shot at a better education and a better life.
He taught me that “to have and to hold” means holding your wife’s hand when she has finally gathered enough courage to snorkel away from the boat. It means staying with her when she wants to stare at the same group of corals for 30 minutes, and you’ve memorized every kind of fish that lives there. Yes, you may have missed out on the ocean for that day, but you don’t wanna miss out on such a special moment with your wife.
He taught me that patience and self-control means refusing to kick the dog or shout at the help when the dog manages to get to the box of fried chicken you just brought home. It simply means sneaking back to the restaurant so you can surprise your family – Voila!
Another fresh box of fried chicken has just miraculously reappeared on the dining table!
He taught me that loneliness and a broken heart may sometimes require the comforting company of new house pets, like a fluffy bunny or a beagle. These, along with an unlimited supply of warm hugs, can do wonders.
He taught me that to cherish someone means telling your wife that she looks beautiful when she’s wearing a dozen rollers in her hair and is chugging down a glass of coke because she just ate half a bag of chicharon.
My dad taught me that forgiveness means you never give up on people, even those who have hurt you to the point where your heart feels like it just stopped and you can’t breathe.
It means having an irrational hope that people can change if they want to.
My dad taught me that being a father may sometimes mean giving up a high-paying job so you can spend more time with your kids — because in the end, they don’t really remember the flashy cars, the branded stuff, or the fancy gadgets. What they will remember are the long afternoon walks, the basketball games in the rain, watching fireflies in the dark, and unhurried conversations over dinner.
About every lesson that my dad taught us came with a memory of how he lived it. And this is one of the reasons why I will forever be proud to be called his daughter.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad! I love you! Katrina
