A father looks in on his sleeping children, and a flood of emotions come rushing to him. This is what came about while observing his children asleep in their beds.
This one came to me strong upon awakening; hope y'all enjoy! :)
I look in on you, sleeping peacefully in your beds, and I can't help but have a flood of emotions come rushing at me like a tidal wave. I feel happiness mostly, but I also feel fear, worry, confusion, even anger.
I feel happiness when I think of all that you have accomplished in life. I feel happiness when I see the little miracles that you show me day in and day out. I feel happiness when you bring home a good report card or a good report from your teachers.
I feel happiness when I hear your sweet voices singing the hymns at church every Sunday. I feel happiness when I see you freely give hugs to your mommy or myself, and I see happiness in your eyes, your faces, your smiles.
I feel fear when I see you lying in a hospital bed, fighting for your life, not knowing whether you are going to live through your latest medical crisis. I feel fear when you step onto a school bus for the first time or ride your bike down the sidewalk, for fear you are going to fall or get hit by a wayward car.
I feel fear when you meet someone new for the first time, and I ferl fear when bad weather is afoot and you don't come inside when I tell you to.
I feel worry when I don't know where you are at or when you aren't home at the appointed time. I feel fear when kids tease you because I don't know how to react or how to protect you from their cruel tauntings.
I feel worry when you have a problem at school or when your teacher wants to discuss some concerns with me. I feel worry when you don't accomplish a new task or when I see other kids getting the accolades while you seem to get ignored.
I feel confused when other kids ignore you like you don't even exist. I feel confused when I get a complicated diagnosis from your doctors or why things aren't going as planned regarding your health. I feel confused when you don't stand up for what you believe in or when you don't listen to us.
I feel confused as to why the world is the way it is, and your reacton to the nightly news. I feel confused when I think what the world will be like when you become adults, whether you will even have a chance to grow up, whether there will be another 9/11. I feel confused when I think of global warming and the effects it is going to have on the future generation--your generation.
I feel anger when I see other kids being cruel to you, or when people slam the doors in your faces when you are only trying to raise money for your school. I feel anger when people turn away when you approach them, and I feel anger when people refuse to look past your disabilities. I mean, can't people see that you are chldren first?? That you are like them, more than they may realize??
I feel anger when you disobey us, your parents, and I feel anger when you are denied disability or a chance for employment. I feel anger when tragedy strikes because I feel I could have done more--much more--to protect you, and I have failed.
Yet even with all the bad, there is more in the way of good, and I couldn't be more proud of each and every one of you. Each one of you kids have blessed me and your mother more than you will ever know; you will probably never know of the struggles we went through in order to bring you into our lives.
You have proved yourself worthy to be our children, and we can't imagine our world without you. You are our reason for living, you are our joy, you are the most important thing in our lives. Our lives would have been far different hadn't t not been for the miracle of adoption.
Children, I look at you now, sleeping peacefully in your beds, and I can't help but get tears in my eyes. I love each and every one of you with a grateful heart, and my heart overflows with a love that will never be squelched. I love you more than life itself, I love you more than ininity!
I am not afraid to cry on your behalf, and when the world is cruel to you, I can't help but to feel anguish. You deserve far more than your mom or I can ever give you, and you deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness, and most of all, respect. If we can't give that to you, we are indeed sorry; you deserve the best of what life has to offer!
I don't know what I have done to deserve having you in our world, but I am very glad of it. God has been faithful in getting you this far in life, nad you all have grown into beautiful young men (and women). I wish I could keep you all little forever; you know that is impossible, but I hope and pray that I am the best father you can ever have.
Please know this: when you hurt, I hurt. When you laugh, I laugh. When you feel joy, then I do, too. When you feel pain, then I am suffering too, right along with you. You aren't alone in your struggles, and if you fail, then it's okay. We'll be right there with you, and you will never be abandoned--EVER. We love you too much to do that.
We took you in for a reason, and you are our Forever Children--now and for all eternity, as long as I have life in my body. Don't forget that. EVER.
Maybe one day I will write a book about our family that I can share, so you can see how much you have impacted me. You have made me a very happy man, and your mother and myself are very grateful to have you in our lives. Please know that if there is anything I am most grateful for it is the Grace of a Loving God because if it were not for Him, you would have never had a chance.
I am grateful, very grateful, that He brought you to us, and now our lives will no longer be the same. You have changed us forever, and we will do everything in our power to give you the best in life, even when life is anything but joyful.
Children, I love each and every one of you, and I pray that you accomplish whatever you desire in life. You have come this far; what's to say that you can't accomplish even greater things??
God bless each and every one of you, and thank you for being my kids. I love you with all my heart and soul; I would die for you, that's how much you mean to me.
As a father and now a grandfather I know how true this write is and how much a father loves his kids like that. Thank you for putting our thoughts into words.
Fee
When Kathy finds a small stray kitten some amazing things happen. Story's from a Mom's view of the love, caring and patience needed when a child wants to own a pet. Recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. Delightful illustrations!
When Kathy finds a small stray kitten some amazing things happen. Story's from a Mom's view of the love, caring and patience needed when a child wants to own a pet. Recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. Delightful illustrations!
When Kathy finds a small stray kitten some amazing things happen. Story's from a Mom's view of the love, caring and patience needed when a child wants to own a pet. Recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. Delightful illustrations!
