Appreciate them

Father's Day, 2014. It's been ten years since both my father and mother passed away in the same year. A decade since I and my brothers officially became orphans.

A lot has happened since. But I still wish that both of them were still around to share in the graces we have been blessed with, and be there when we needed support for all that life that thrown at us. I specifically remember my dad. His kind and calm demeanor has always preceded him. He just had that aura of peacefulness that rubs off on everyone around him, especially my mom. He was the type that could not hurt a fly.

I actually cannot recall ever hearing him raise his voice at anyone. Even when all hell was breaking loose at home with all the usual domestic problems any household would have, he always kept his voice low. That usually doused whatever fire was raging, sometimes much to the consternation of my mom, who in essence was his polar opposite. Probably that is why they made such a great pair to begin with. Most of us actually took after mom. But when dad would enter the picture, everyone would just calm down. As if an angel touched us to calm us down like in the movie "City of Angels."

On the other hand, I have heard stories from friends and acquaintances where their respective fathers were seen as the villains of the house. Drunks, womanizers, bums, gamblers to illustrate a few, with the occasional violent individuals who just love to hit anyone, including wives and children. I am just thankful that these are the exceptions and not the rule, nor the norm.

Fathers have always been described as breadwinners, authority figures and disciplinarians in some cases, unwittingly. I have once read that nothing gives a man extreme joy than seeing his first born child. This is what I see fathers to be - the loving, protective parent that they are. There are times that life itself makes them who they are. And why? It is because they only want to give the best to their family. They may not be perfect, even if they try to be. Appreciate them, while you still can.

I know I would have.