Tribute to My Father

But as fate would have it, my Dad was diagnosed with a blocked carotid artery and had to schedule surgery in November of 08.  He was extremely weak after surgery and never regained his health.  We had more tests run, and the MRI was indicative of a stroke and a brain tumor.  As of 1/9/09, my Dad has been diagnosed with a brain tumor that has already progressed to stage four. 

He is a very special man, and I love him dearly.  He raised me after my mother died when I was a young child, and he became both mother and father to me.  Every life he has touched remembers him as a kind, sweet, gentle soul who never had a bad word to say about anyone. 

I have been looking for ways to support him and calling for inspiration to let him know how many people love and adore him now while he is still with us.  I love poetry, so I was looking in a book called Guidewords An Anthology Of Inspiration And Humor to find the perfect poem to let him know how I feel about him. The poem is by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and it is called Sonnets from the Portuguese.

I would like to share this poem with all of you.

How do I love thee? Let me count the

ways,

I love thee to the depth and breadth and

height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of

sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

I love thee to the level of every day's

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from

praise.

I love thee with a passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood's

faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints-I love thee with the

breath,

Smiles, tears of all my life!-and, if God

choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1809 - 1861

Thank you for being my father, and for all of your loving kindness while raising me daddy.

Your loving daughter,

Patty

I would like to share a few responses I received when I e-mailed my friends a tribute to my father.

Patty: yesterday was the one year anniversary of my dad's death. I know what you are feeling right now. But know that the greatest gift anyone can give another person is love - and you gave him so much, and he gave so much back. After a year, the pain lessens because it is in the order of life, but you will never cease missing him as I have not stopped missing mine. My heart goes out to you. I hope he passes quietly like my father. Thank you for the awesome love you spread around to all of us because that is ultimately what matters. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, and the second greatest commandment is to love others with all your heart. You have done that.
 
Hugs always,
Christine

I found another beautiful poem in a book of poetry by Patricia Duncan. The poem is called (These Gifts). They are for your DAD.

If some gifts I were to give thee

these gifts would surely be

A STAR within the heavens

of perfect symmetry

to glow and glisten brightly

when darkness swallows thee

A Rainbow I would give thee

as a symbol of

all the joy and laughter

present in our love

And then I'd want to give thee

a golden old OAK TREE

to shelter and protect thee

from life's uncertainties

To thee I'd give a RAINDROP

to save in chystal rare

and all I ask in return

is that thee love me equally