Father's Day - stores are filled with gift ideas and
cards. There are special programs dedicated to
honoring fathers. Yes, fathers are a very special group
of people.
This is an open letter to each and every father out
in the world. This is directed at you if you are
currently living and raising your children, your
children are grown, or you have fathered a child but
do not have the pleasure of being an integral part of
that child's life. Also, if you are a father and do not
have or want any contact with a child that carries
your physical attributes, this is for you.
A child is a unique combination of genes. Some are
from the mother and some are contributed by the
father. There are previous generations that also are
taken into account. In other words, this child is a
burning emblem of civilization and is given the
responsibility of carrying the torch of the world to
its resting place.
There is so much more than scientific endowments.
There are emotions, hopes, dreams, and aspirations.
A child is a mirror that reflects only the best of what
mankind is capable of creating. It is history in the
making, a promise for the future, and the pride of
the beholder. A child is a complicated assortment of
atoms and molecules, as well as a simple solution to
the loss of hope. You can dream with a child, and grow
in awareness of everything around you. Miracles abound
in life with the gift of innocence. Time comes to a
standstill and our daily activities are sidestepped so
we can look at an insect and marvel, or see a bird and
truly see it for the first time. Giggles, hugs, and tickles
wrap up a perfect day. We are one step closer to
perfection and yet the small hand of a child holds the
keys. Their steps are tiny and the road is long. They
have endurance and capabilities we can only marvel
at. A child is simplicity dressed up in its finest.
Missed opportunities of being with your child are
irretrievable. Your child will never go back in time
no matter how many times you do. Only their shadows
remain to haunt and point an accusing finger. If you
are not a vital part in your child's life, there will always
be a void that no one else can ever fill. This space in
the soul of a child will ache and be painful for as long
as the child lives. Only your touch, your attention, and
only you can soothe and cure. The responsibility is great but
the rewards are incomprehensible. You are not
complete if there is a void in your child's life.
Taking a rocket to the moon is child's play when
compared to raising a child to adulthood. There are
no owner's manuals and no guarantees. There are
only promises and assurances of tomorrow.
Expectations may vary but there are no mistakes.
You do the best you can and that is all that is
asked. Mistakes also pave the way for growth but
absence builds the roadblocks. Walls of years of
neglect can be torn down with a kiss and an
embrace. Past disappointments are just that -
the past. It may take time to completely undo
what it may have taken years to build, but the labor
is worth it. Your reflection will always be in your
child's eyes and your lifeblood flows in their bodies.
Their hearts are equipped to forgive and forget,
but they need to know you care. Feelings and
emotions can be mended, but abandonment is an
open sore that never heals.
On Father's Day take the time to know your child,
be a vital part of his/her existence and be grateful
that you have contributed to the building of that
rocket to the moon.
(Written by someone who never knew their father)
HAVE A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
ENJOY!
©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002 May
About the Author
Arleen Kaptur has written numerous articles, cookbooks,
and SEARCHING FOR AUSTIN JAMES, a novel. You may visit
her at the following websites: Arleen's Site,
Rustic Living.com,
or SimpleLiving.
