Statistics show most single-family households are headed by females or mothers. Aunts and Grandmothers are also playing an active role in the lives of their grandchildren as their legal guardian. This may have occurred through death, incarceration or the mother being declared unfit to raise her children.
Whatever the reason, the father is typically absent and even if present, does not necessarily take his role seriously as a parent. You may have heard, "A boy can become a daddy but it takes a man to be a father."
My five siblings and I were blessed to have a dad and a father. George Wilford Ward, Sr. was present and actively involved in our lives. When our mother passed away, he met the challenges of being maternal in ways he had learned from her before her passing.
Sometimes our memories fade or we become falsely enamored by the facts as time passes. We will remember a loved one in loving ways for the sake of ridding ourselves of guilt. We may forgive them post mortem because we want to move on with our lives. Neither of these is true where our dad is concerned. He was a man's man! He was a lady's man! He was honorable and respected. He was a man of character and integrity. He was a man who feared God and served Him. He was the heart of our family. His wife and children loved and adored him.
How could a daughter not love a daddy like this? Let me share with you how blessed we were:
- He loved his wife and children and honored them by his deeds
- He was a provider and protector
- He was demonstrative and verbal with his love
- He was compassionate
- He loved others and helped them
- He knew his weaknesses and strengths
- He was not ashamed to show his emotions
- He was tall, dark and very handsome
- He was quiet but engaging
- He was loved, respected and admired by everyone who met him
- He was fun and playful
- He was wise and intelligent
- He was called "Daddy G" by many he did not father but to whom he was a father
- He was a father-figure to his siblings
- He was my Daddy and with total bias, the best father any child or adult could ever have!
While sitting in church services last Sunday, an older gentleman walked down the aisle and I immediately thought how much his gait reminded me of daddy. The services had not started yet so many others walked passed where I was sitting.
During the service, he walked passed again and my eyes filled with tears. My heart felt as if it had been clinched by a vise-grip. The pain of missing him was overwhelming. My praise and worship came to a halt as these real emotions coursed through my soul. This was not a new experience but a first during praise and worship. The Word of God came to me to give me the comfort needed to regain the joy I had prior to this experience.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." (II Corinthians 5:8) My joy was restored as I looked upwards and gave a praise wave to my parents. Daddy was in praise and worship service, too!
I salute all fathers as I share my love with you for mine. Happy Father's Day and God bless you!
© 2008 Avis Ward of UCHM, LLC
