Happy Father's Day!
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| Charles D. Hanna |
The word father
may not always create a good feeling, memory, or have a significant meaning for
many.
Some have had to live with an abusive father and have had a
hard time reconciling the word with love. A host of others spend their entire
lives learning how to overcome and move past the hurts that come with
abandonment or death. For those who have had to suffer in this way, I am truly
sorry.
After having had worked in the social services realm for a
stint, it appears as though in today’s world we can count it as a privilege to
get to have a loving father or father figure in our lives while we are being
raised.
I was someone who was blessed to have a father who, while
not perfect, did his best by his children. The following are just a few
excerpts from my book “It Is What It Is…But It Wasn’t A Tragedy” in which I give
tribute to my father.
…My dad was a
larger-than-life kind of a person! When he walked into a room and smiled, the
party began! My dad’s career determined where we would live like most families
in those days. Dad was very outgoing, hardworking, a little rough around the
edges sometimes, and wasn’t afraid of anything, which was good considering he
chose law enforcement for his career...
…One time my dad
knocked on the door of a prostitute who lived across the street from my parents
and asked her if he could take all of her children to church on Sundays. She
didn’t mind at all and the kids loved my dad. I can remember those kids running
through the church halls after Sunday school waving their color pages. “Mr.
Hanna, Mr. Hanna!” they would scream. They were so excited to show him their
art work and would tell him what they had learned in Sunday school. Eventually
they moved away but just to think that those kids will probably never forget
Mr. Hanna. He took the time to be with them and gave them attention regardless
of what their family situation at home was all about. My dad made a positive
influence on many people while he was on this earth. If a prisoner asked him
faith questions it was nothing for him to witness to them as he drove them off
to the state pen…
…mom finally got it
out of me about my being teased for my height. When mom told dad about it he
had a chat with me. I will never forget what he told me because it was one of
the most brilliant confidence boosters I could have ever had and it has stuck
with me my entire life. Dad sat down and looked at me on eye level. “Tall is
beautiful, and don’t you ever forget it,” he stated. Dads if you have never
told your daughters that they are beautiful you are missing out!
…Father lived for only
two months after his final diagnosis, but those two months were the most
meaningful to me. He was such a great man of honor and fought a good fight to
the end. He was as brave as he had always been known to be even when the chemo
treatments brought his body down. He lost a lot of weight as we struggled to
find something that he could eat and keep down. His pain was so immense. I
often took father to his doctor appointments and to his chemo treatments. We
had wonderful chats about things that mattered and things that didn’t. I loved
those talks that we had; he always stayed pretty optimistic throughout the
whole ordeal…
…I sat down beside my
father’s bed and began to pray through my tears, “Father God, I know you are a
merciful god. Dad has been a good and faithful servant. He loves you and I know
he will spend eternity with you. Please take him quickly. Do not let him suffer
any longer. Please take him before my mother arrives this morning. She needs to
be spared from this painful moment. Amen.”
As I sat beside his
bed, I started to read the Bible. It is so hard to pray a prayer like that. In
all of our selfishness we want to keep our loved ones with us longer but I felt
that it was time for him to move on to heaven. His mission here on earth was
accomplished and what a mission it had been! Besides his being a great husband
and father as well as our family spiritual leader, he had touched so many, many
lives throughout his lifetime…
Yes, my father was larger than life. His law enforcement/political
career kept him in the lime-life but he was always just a plain good old boy,
who loved God and his family. I count it as a blessing to be able to call him
dad.
I could always count on him but now he is with his heavenly
father residing in the most spectacular of all places.
Some of you reading this may not have had the blessing of an
earthly father. But know that all of us have a heavenly father who loves us,
cares for us, and wants us to call upon him.
I look forward to the day when I will see my earthly daddy
and my heavenly father! What a glorious day that will be!
Many Blessings!
Debra
