Today is Resurrection Day, so it’s automatically the best. But, something else very wonderful and happy makes this day even more beautiful: It’s my Daddy’s Birthday. The best Dad in the world. No contest.
My Dad knows how to love. I have experienced this all of my life, but I don’t think I realized it fully until I was with him and Momma, taking care of Mimi in her last few weeks. No man could have treated his mother-in-law with more tenderness, compassion, and patience. I have seen my dad with little ones, first in our home videos and then with younger cousins, and finally with our Sophia Rose.
It is a beautiful thing to behold. He knows just how to be with children and play with them and love them. He knows kids love it when you give them horsey rides in the living room, and he knows they love “whale rides” in the pool, and he knows they loved to be snuggled and held, and he knows “kids spell love t-i-m-e”-direct quote from my dad. My dad knows how to spend time with kids, and I have known and love this about him. He knows how to be childlike and so children love him, too. With Mimi, who became just like a child, he did the very same. He spoke to her with words of love and peace and hope of seeing Jesus soon. He prayed the rosary with me and the Chaplet with us by her bed side. He was the first to welcome the opportunity of taking care of Mimi all the night through when one of her night nurses couldn't make it last minute. He led us in prayers right after she passed away. He took care of her before she passed, and took care of us after.
I love you, daddy, for so many reasons. For you and momma having us Baptized into the Church and raising us to live for Jesus. For your patience, forgiveness, compassion, generosity of spirit, mercy, and showing us how to love through it all. For helping me with my homework, and coming to my games, and driving us to school, and playing scrabble and cards with us, for taking us to the mountains and getting me an oxygen tank when the mountains didn’t agree with me, for letting me go to UD, for giving me so many opportunities to learn and grow.
You inspire me to live and to have the courage to trust in God through the suffering that comes in this life. I thank God that He created you, formed your inmost being, and knit you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139). I thank God He planned from eternity to give me to you and momma. I am truly, eternally grateful. Anyone who knows you is incredibly blessed.
I wish I was there to celebrate with you, but I am with you in Spirit through the Eucharist, and i’ll be thanking the Beloved all day and every day for the gift of you, Dad.
love this post - beautiful words to your dad. i know he cherished every single one. i could also add a heaping helpful of thanks for being the founder of so many feasts, welcoming me into his home more times than any of us could count, taking us out in the boat, being patient when i couldn't get up on the skis, and the list goes on...
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