Everyone–please show your dad how much you love and appreciate him today.
I’m certain everyone of us has been guilty of taking our parents for granted at times. I know I did–we all get so involved in our own lives that we don’t take time to think about and appreciate how much they do for us or express our thoughts to them. Good fathers, play multiple roles in the lives of their children. They are a source of strength, affection and comfort. They are teachers, listeners, playmates, role models, disciplinarians, providers and examples. The impressions and influence of a father, good or bad, plays a large role in the life of a child for a life time.
My father died several years ago, but I still remember him with loving thoughts. He wasn’t perfect; nobody is. But he was among the best. He was a good parent, a good husband (which in my books is one of the most important influences in a child’s life), he did fun things with us kids, he lived by his principles, he was a fair disciplinarian, he taught us about personal responsibility and he was a consistent provider.
I married a man who has the same qualities, and he is a great father to our children, and a great source of pleasure and wisdom to our grand children. We are a close family, and all they express their appreciation to him regularly. His example was one of stability, hard work, love and affection, and how to do have fun as well.
Our oldest grand daughter wrote this poem for him for his birthday a couple of years ago.
Learning From Grandpa
We grew up in his barn, me and my best friend,
Our home away from most every weekend
He taught me a lot, more than he can know,
Like grooming the horses, and trimming their toes
And finding the best spot to dig up earth worms
All the important things for a fisherman to learn
Like baiting hooks, and tangled lines and netting the fish
You let us sing Black Socks as long as we wished.
I learned responsibility, chores always came first
Keep your animals free from hunger and thirst
And sit up straight in the saddle all day
Even when the joy of cow chasing has faded away
To leave the show with a warm hearted grin,
Even if you and your horse didn’t win
Because winning isn’t always a prize or blue ribbon
If your horse learned just one thing it was worth the time given
You’d come give me pointers when you didn’t have time,
Keep your heels down, your head up and jog in a straight line
You’d let us sleep over night after night,
Knowing Sassy wouldn’t foal ‘till the timing was right.
You let us come to watch you do what you’d do,
Letting us help out with chores or shovel horse doo
Calving the calves and breeding the mares
I learned more about reproduction than any kid dares
Being strong willed and hardy and not giving up
Even when that colt landed you on your butt
And cursing in ways I never imagined,
I grew up just like you, now could that happen?!
So thank you Grandpa for all that you’ve taught me
Without all that I’ve learned I don’t know who I’d be.
poem written by Jennifer Jackson
Wish all your fathers HAPPY FATHERS DAY today and show them your affection often. They will appreciate it greatly. My husband reads this poem with love and happiness, knowing that he is cherished by his children and grand children and he has influenced their lives.