My
Daddy, Edgar
To others he was Ed or Edgar.
To Mama, he was always Dear. I never called him
Father or Dad. To me he'll always be Daddy.
He was a simple man and proud.
He never finished high school, heck, he never
even went to high school! He taught
himself to read and write, but didn't trust those
skills as much as he trusted Mama to do his
literary chores.
He never knew a stranger and in
all his dealings with men never voiced a dislike
for any one of them. Indeed, he seemed to delight
in the variety and unpredictability of mankind.
Daddy made the best pancakes in
the world, and the best sausage gravy, too! He
always mopped the floors and did the other
"heavy" housework chores. But Daddy was
no milk toast! Oh no, not him. He stood 6 foot 3
and was strong as an ox. His booming voice could
be heard a block away. (Thank heaven, it was
usually a jolly voice full of good cheer!)
Daddy loved to sing, but could
not carry a tune. He knew it but didn't let it
bother him at all. He sang long and loud and off
key almost every day of his life. And he taught
me how to be happy…
He was an eternal optimist, a
prospector, a wild goose always on the move. I
went to 52 schools while growing up!
But most of all, he was my
Daddy and the best Daddy any girl could ever have
had.
I sure miss you, Daddy.
Charlie, My Father-in-Law
My father-in-law was not my
husband's natural father. But he taught four
step-=sons the kind of love only a true father
knows. For, you see, paternity in its truest
sense has nothing to do with biology but is the
essence of love and self-sacrifice embodied by
caring parents of both sexes.
Charlie was a gentle giant of a
man who undertook the raising of four boys. He
wasn't an educated nor sophisticated man and
never put on airs. But he always kept his word.
Charlie was always patient with
others and knew how to be patient with himself as
well. A lesson we could use in today's world.
I helped care for Charlie as he
suffered from cancer. I was with him when he died
(with a smile on his face and pointing to a spot
about three feet above the foot of his bed). I
miss him.
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The
Father of My Children
I was the mother of nine when
Richard married me. Together we raised them and
provided care for others long the way as well.
Even now, we are parenting a 14 year old girl.
Richard has been an educator
for over 25 years so has been a father figure for
more children than we can count. Oh, I know there
are many teachers and administrators who care for
the kids but few can top the love my Honey
genuinely feels for his charges.
As for his own children, and to
him they are every bit his own, he has an abiding
love for each one. With his size 12 feet planted
firmly on the ground, he shows his love with
loyalty and honor.
No, he's not very flowery, but
that would seem phony coming from him. But you
can count on him to always be there, to always
support and love his kids even when they do
things to displease him.
He's the love of my life and I
thank God for him.
My Father in Heaven
My heavenly Father is, of
course, God. He's the Father with perfect love
who cares so much for me He gave His most
precious Son to save me.
He guides my path and orders my
steps. He fills my heart with joy and peace. How
could I fear when the King of all creation is my
adoring Daddy!?
He's you dad, too. Like me, you
can cry out to Him, "Abba, abba!"
(Daddy or Papa) and He will hear you and shed
tears of joy that you are reaching out to Him.
What a wonderful Father we
have!!
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