Daddy's Poem

[Effie Dickson]

Her hair was in a pony tail,

Her dress tied with a bow. 
Today was 
"Daddy's Day" at school,

She couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her, 

That she probably should stay home; 
The kids just might not 
understand, 
If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid; 
She knew 
just what to say, 
What to tell her classmates 
Why he wasn't there 
today.

But still her mother worried, 
For 
her to face this day alone. 
And that was why, once again, 
She tried to 
keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school, 

Eager to tell them all 
About a dad she never sees,

A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall 

for everyone to meet, 
Children squirming impatiently, 
Anxious in 
their seat.

One by one the teacher called 
A 
student from the class. 
To introduce their daddy, 
As seconds slowly 
passed.

At last the teacher called her name, 

As each child turned to stare. 
Each of them was searching, 
For a 
man who wasn't there.

 

"Where's her daddy at?" 
She heard a boy call out. 

"She probably doesn't have one," 
Another dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back, 

She heard a daddy say, 
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, 
Too busy 
to waste his day."

The words did not offend her, 
As she 
smiled up at her Mom. 
And looked back at her teacher,

Who Told her to go on.

 

And with hands behind her back, 
Slowly she began to 
speak. 
And out from the mouth of a child, 
Came words incredibly 
unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here, 
Because 
he lives so far away. 
But I know he wishes he could be, 
Since this is 
such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him, 
I 
wanted you to know 
All about my daddy, 
And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories, 
He 
taught me to ride my bike; 
He surprised me with pink roses, 
And taught 
me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes, 
And 
ice cream in a cone. 
And though you cannot see him. 
I'm not standing 
here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me, 

Even though we are apart; 
I know because he told me, 
He'll forever 
be in my heart. "

With that, her little hand reached up, 

And lay across her chest, 
Feeling her own heartbeat 
Beneath her 
favorite dress.

And from somewhere there in the crowd of 
dads, 
Her mother stood in tears. 
Proudly watching her little girl, 

Wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love 
Of a 
man not in her life. 
Doing what was best for her, 
Doing what was a 
right.

And when she dropped her hand back 

Down, staring straight into the crowd. 
She finished with a voice so 
soft, 
But its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much, 
He is my 
shining star. 
And if he could, he'd be here, 
But heaven's just too 
far.

You see he is a soldier 
And he died 
just this past year, 
When a roadside bomb hit his convoy 
And taught 
the warriors fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, 

It's like he never went away." 
And then she closed her eyes, 
And 
saw him clearly there that day.

And to her mother's amazement, 
She 
witnessed with surprise, 
A room full of daddies and children, 
All 
starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them; 

Who knows what they felt inside, 
Perhaps, for a mere second, 
They 
saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy," 
To 
the silence she called out 
And what happened next made believers, 
Of 
those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, 

For each of their eyes had been closed, 
But there on the desk beside 
her 
Was a fragrant, long-stemmed, pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a 
moment,

by the love of her shining star, 
And 
given the gift of believing, 
That heaven is never too far.

 

* * * They say it takes a 
minute to 
find a special person, an hour to
appreciate them, a day to love 
them, 
but then an entire life to forget them.

Send this to the people you'll never 
forget and remember to send it
also to the person that sent it to you.

It's a short message to let
them know 
that you'll never forget them.

 

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're in a 
hurry and 
that you've forgotten your friends. 
Take the time....to live 
and love.

 

Until eternity. God Bless. 
===========

 

There must be many 
children in the same boat as this 
little girl,
thanks to our servicemen and 
their families for the 
sacrifice they
are making to keep our country free.

 

The ULTIMATE sacrifice is being left behind. 
Don't 
forget them. 
PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS!!

In God We Trust.