As most of you know, today is Father’s Day in America. Not sure how many other countries, if any, celebrate this day. It is a day that can be easy or difficult depending on your relationship with your father.
My relationship with my Dad was complicated. I found him too difficult to understand and distant when I was growing up. I sometimes wondered whether he approved of me. We often argued, though we both kinda liked to argue too.
Often we would be in the middle of an argument and would both smile because we enjoyed the challenge of and respected someone who could stand up to our sometimes ridiculous stubbornness.
Still, I used to envy other people who had easy relationships with their father — ones that were always affectionate and kind and simple. Ours wasn’t like that.
Yet at his funeral I couldn’t even finish reading a simple passage in front of other people. My body just froze and my brother had to come up and help me to my seat. I was a basket case because I was losing the steady rock that was my father.
Even after years of Alzheimer’s disease, when he depended upon others to take care of him, there was always a dignity tha never left him. A few days ago, I saw a beautiful post by Eva at where’smyT-backandotherstories on the effects of Alzheimer’s shown through an artist’s first hand experience of it. Check it out if you have time.
I believe that after people pass from this realm into the next their soul and spirit are restored no matter how they lived. Occasionally, my Dad comes to me in dreams. Sometimes I feel my presence when I need him.
No matter what your relationship to your father, even if you never knew him, today is a day to honor the person who with your mother gave you life. A big part of the gift of who you are comes from that person, and for that reason, he is a blessing to your life, because you are a blessing to the world.
So whatever good you can find in yourself, remember your father today and be grateful for the possibilities that still remain in your life because of the gift he gave you.
Thank you Dad for all you gave me, and happy Father’s Day wherever you are now.
These are some photos that show the loving and kind side of my father who loved his family so much in the best way he could. I honor him today.
Mindful Earthkeeper 
Thank you for sharing your sweet memories of your dad, Karen.
Thanks Ledia!
glad you could frame the good memories and hold on to those 🙂
Thanks Roxie!
Ah my dad was my rock too. He left school at 13 to work in the shipyards on the River Tyne but read avidly and taught himself and me so much. He used to take me for walks as a child and tell me all about the stars. Once when I was 10 I had an accident and had to go to hospital for stitches. My dad sat with me and the nurses were amazed that I did not cry. They did not know that I felt so happy that my dad was spending time just with me ~ he was my hero. He died after a terrible illness in 1993 and I miss him to this day.
I’m sorry to hear about your Dad’s illness. It must have been difficult to endure that time in your life. I don’t think we ever stop missing the people who were most important in our lives and yet we go on , and hopefully take the best part of them with us in our hearts.
✿♡✿Happy Father’s Day!
Many best wishes to you as well!
😉