Dear Dad,

It’s a joyous day today as we celebrate you, giving thanks unto God for His many mercies and grace, and for upholding you with His right hand.

As I look back to the worthy legacies that you have set, I realize that every time you gave to the needy, every St. Vincent De Paul activity you engaged me in, everytime you placed others before yourself, you laid for me a foundation of selflessness. Everyday the family prayed together in the morning, everyday we read from the daily devotional, you were setting the stage for what would later be my spiritual renaissance.

Need I mention your contribution to what I am today? I may not remember you checking my homework or class scores everyday, I do not remember you guiding my hand to learn to write my first alphabets, but I do remember the lashing I received that day I presented my worst result ever; my SS 1 2nd term result wherein I got 4 Ds. You were having dinner that day I stood before you, trembling while handing over the result, fearing what was to come. You did not cast your mind to the A's I got in the other subjects. You did not congratulate me for at least passing all 12 subjects. It only bothered you that I had 4 Ds. You immediately left your meal, and ordered me inside your room; and my behind received many lashes from that famous belt. You returned to your meal, whIle I went away in tears. Yet that event seared into my heart therefrom that it was not enough to succeed sometimes, to succeed halfway, or to succeed even most of the time, but that I must succeed all the time, all the way. Thus, an academic brilliance was and is evident in all your children, such that in school, our surname soon became the symbol of intelligence.

What more can I say of the many values you instilled in us, of love for God and country, of respect for womanhood, of diligence and honest labour, of contentment, sacrifice and integrity. You did not teach us these things via lectures, rather you lived them. And that is why am proud to call you FATHER, and I promise you that I will not do less with my children.

My greatest desire is that the Lord will yet lengthen your days, and make your strength as that of Caleb, who at 85 testified that he was as strong as when God first called him. And I pray that every mention of your children will bring joy to your heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Nice one bro. I'm glad you appreciate your father for being there for you. You're really lucky. My dad left me when I was just 3 months old and I don't even know what he looks like. I pray I never become like him and I'm looking forward to the day my own kid will write a letter like this to me.

If your father stayed by your mom to raise you, give him a big hug NOW!

Congratulations to your Dad... he must be very special to have raised such a smart kid

amdman: Congratulations to your Dad... he must be very special to have raised such a smart kid

Thank you for your kind words. I figured I did not have to wait until his funeral to let him know that I appreciate who and what he is.

myads890: Nice one bro. I'm glad you appreciate your father for being there for you. You're really lucky. My dad left me when I was just 3 months old and I don't even know what he looks like. I pray I never become like him and I'm looking forward to the day my own kid will write a letter like this to me.

If your father stayed by your mom to raise you, give him a big hug NOW!

Thank you for sharing. My prayer for you is that you get to meet your dad soon. You guys may not be able to turn back the hands of time, better late than never.

I could care less. I'm more focused on being a better father to my kids

maxxy:

Thank you for sharing. My prayer for you is that you get to meet your dad soon. You guys may not be able to turn back the hands of time, better late than never.

You seem to love ya dad.

Its good to know you have kind words to say about your father. I also have kind words about my father as well but my children hardly remember their father. He has not looked back in 4 years. When he was still in touch, he never gave a fine to them. I sometimes wonder if he doesn't worry about the future at all.he has no other kids except his step kids.

I just love this.
Hopefully my kids write such to me.