A Tribute to Daddy

Daddy . . . the very sound of the word fills my heart with joy.  That's what you brought into my life.

A quiet man, not given to many words, I knew you loved me.  Your ways were many:

• in the way you wrapped your arms around me;

• the way you taught me how to ride my tricycle and then a bicycle;

• the trial run of paper dolls your company was printing -- you brought them home to me;

• colored vinyl 45s that you were printing labels for -- you brought home the giveaways;

• nights algebra homework made no sense to me -- you sat down and helped me;

• on the nights bad dreams haunted my sleep world -- you let me crawl into your bed, sending mama to my bed to sleep;

• when things didn't go right, you were there to comfort me and help me work out my problems;

• you taught me to be a Godly person in the way you lived your own life;

• you taught me to work hard by example;

• you taught me courage in the face of illness, battling one after another yourself; 

• you taught me to stand up for what I believe in by standing by my side when my life went sour in my first marriage;

• you gave me the love of books (your printer's ink runs in my veins);

• you gave me the love of music -- I'll never forget lying belly flat on the living room rug in front of the Stromberg-Carlson phonograph listening to records with you;

My Dad
(1901-1973)
Oh, how I miss you!

• you provided for us as no other daddy could in spite of your poor health, never missing a day's work no matter how bad you felt.

My list could go on, but these are the highest on my list of cherished memories of you, Daddy.  And no matter how long I live or how old I grow, you'll always be Daddy to me.

My heart thrills to the thought that God brought you and Mama together for a reason.

Remember, the two of you once told me that you agreed to not have any children because you each had children from previous marriages?  Looks like neither of you remembered to keep that part of your marriage commitment -- I was born a mere 10 months after you and Mama married!  I'm so glad God decided we all belonged together.

To you, Daddy, thanks for giving me life, for helping me become the person I am today, and for loving me.  Those are the greatest gifts a Daddy could give a child.

Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children
who learn proper behavior from their parents.
Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him
and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us.
His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order
to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.
Love like that.

Ephesians 5:1-2 (MSG)