11 Oct 2003 @ 21:06
My Father chose to leave this world on Friday October 10. His passing was swift and my pain is great because I was not with him. I did not have the chance to hold his hand, to help him on his way. To tell him that I loved and respected him. To comfort and tell him not to be afraid. To tell him that I regret not making the effort to spend more time with him when he was here. He was not alone and for that, I am grateful but I was not there. Perhaps it was fitting that it was his son who spent the last few hours and minutes of my Father's earthly life, with him.
On the world stage, his name was known but the legacy he leaves is greater than any world leader. His gift was one that no money can buy; that no world leader can give it was the gift of a generous man to his family. It was his belief and his encouragement that enabled to us to lead our lives with courage and the belief that we could be and do what ever we set our minds to achieve. He taught his children and his grandchildren to respect nature and the earth to read and to appreciate music and life. In many ways, he had a hard life especially as a child. Many people hurt him but he left this world forgiving them and making peace with those whom had caused him pain. In his way, he understood the lessons that he was here to learn and therefore he left this world in peace. In this respect he was wiser than most.
He said to me recently that he believed he was a failure. I was shocked when he said this for in his mind he was measuring success in material terms. Anyone with the right circumstance can be a leader in business and such but it takes a special man to influence others to be different. On the material side, he gave anything he had to others. Some abused this taking advantage but he did not see this side of others, all he saw was that someone needed help and if he could, he gave it. I tried to explain to him that he was successful in more ways than he could know. In his influence on us - in how we have always believed in ourselves. In the encouragement that he gave us and me in particular to be different. I know that at times he thought that I was a shingle short with some of my beliefs, but he listened nevertheless. He supported me regardless of what he thought and I know that he respected my stance on many issues.
Last, but not least he was man of honour and commitment. If he made a promise, he kept it. He loved his family, his wife, his children his grandchild and his bothers and his sister. The world is sadder place for his leaving but his legacy lives on. More >
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