"None of you can ever be proud enough of being the child of SUCH a Father who has not his equal in this world-so great, so good, so faultless. Try, all of you, to follow in his footsteps and don't be discouraged, for to be really in everything like him none of you, I am sure, will ever be. Try, therefore, to be like him in some points, and you will have acquired a great deal." -- Victoria, Queen of England

Father's Day is a national holiday set aside on the third Sunday of June to honor our fathers. Unfortunately, I can no longer celebrate Father's Day with gifts to my dad but instead I spend the day remembering all of the precious moments I spent with him.

He was without a doubt the stablizing factor in my life. My true hero and I was in every sense of the words "Daddy's little girl".

I lost my Dad to cancer when I was only 19-years-old. Never will I forget the day my Dad looked at me and told me he didn't have long to live. I, at the time, was 8-months pregnant with my oldest son. My Dad lived less than a month from that day. He never got to see his grandson born 18 days after his death that became his namesake.

The death of my father was without a doubt the most tramatic loss I have experienced in my life. Not a day goes by that I don't wish my Dad was still with us. He missed knowing his grandchildren (now 11 of them) but more important is that his grandchildren missed out in having a wonderful grandpa.

But I think the hardest part is no longer having my Dad to talk to. He always gave me great advice although I didn't always listen. He was so wise and I never got the chance to say "thanks" or "I'm sorry for not listening".

Only twice did I ever see this great man shed a tear. The first time was at a funeral of a family friend. The second was at my wedding. I never got the chance to ask him why he cried that day. Maybe because his little girl was getting married, but I think more because he knew what a huge mistake I was making. Yes, he tried to tell me. If you're listening Dad, "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you!"

So many words were left unsaid. So many of life's experiences I have not been able to share with my Dad. But I do have the wonderful memories and the many lesson's he taught me.

He taught me to have an unquestioning faith in God. That faith has brought me through some very hard times. And I know that someday I will be with my Dad again in heaven.

He taught me about forgiveness and love in a relationship. And while both Mom and I agree that my Dad was one of a kind, someday I hope to find one just as great.

And my Dad instilled in me morals that have stuck. I often catch myself wondering if Dad would approve when contemplating an idea.

So, as you celebrate Father's Day with your Dad this year be sure to tell him just how much you love him and how much you appreciate him. Better than that......treat everyday like Father's Day. Make sure he knows everyday how much you love him.



Daddy's Day
Her hair up in a ponytail,
Her favorite dress tied with a bow,
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
And she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home,
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid,
She knew just what to say,
What to tell her classmates,
On this Daddy's Day.

But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone,
And that was why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all,
About a dad she never sees ...
A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet,
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called,
A student from the class,
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare,
Each of them were searching,
For a man that wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out,
"She probably doesn't have one."
Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say
"Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,
As she smiled at her friends,
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to begin.

And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak,
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away,
But I know he wishes he could be,
With me on this day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know,
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories,
He taught me to ride my bike,
He surprised me with pink roses,
And he taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
And ice cream in a cone,
And though you cannot see him,
I'm not standing all alone.

'Cause my daddy's always with me,
Even though we are apart;
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be here in my heart."

With that her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest,
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
Her mother stood in tears,
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love,
Of a man not in her life,
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd,
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,
He's my shining star,
And if he could he'd be here,
But heavens just too far.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,
It's like he never went away,"
And then she closed her eyes,
And saw him there that day.

And to her mother's amazement,
She witnessed with surprise,
A room full of daddies and children,
All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,
Who knows what they felt inside,
Perhaps for merely a second,
They saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me daddy,"
To the silence she called out,
And what happened next made believers,
Of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed,
But there placed on her desktop,
Was a beautiful fragrant pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only a moment,
By the love of her shining bright star,
And given the gift of believing,
That heaven is never too far.


© 2000 Cheryl Costello-Forshey

















The graphic set was made using free tubes found on the internet. The set is the copyright property of the webmistress. The poetry used is the copyright property of its author. The wav "Daddy's Hands" is for your enjoyment and remains the copyright property of the artist.

(c)2002 The Runaway Bride