When one is small and young, and
Everything is new in the world –
Fathers appear to be the
Giants in the land.
They can outrun the family dog,
Move six-foot tall trees and
Keep driving the family car with the family
Mobile home attached behind
While a blizzard whitens
Everything out of sight
On a mountain road that
Keeps circling around
And around even though there is no
End view to clearly see ahead on
Either left or right.
Not only are they giants in height,
But they have minds that are
Giant in scope as well.
For fathers have to know all the answers
To all the questions
A young child will think to ask.
Why is the sky only blue?
If it rains on Sunday, is it still Sunday?
My birthday is in June and
David’s birthday is in October,
Why is David older than me?
Fathers give listening ears to many
Hopes and dreams of their young ones
As the years, go on
Always working towards the joys
And laughter of what will be tomorrow.
As time goes on fathers also become builders --
Building brand new house rooms for wrens
To be captivated by the backyard gardens.
So that they stay on through the
Coming spring and summer days.
Private entranceways back into the house
Are built on for the family felis cattus,
While she sits by and superintends the construction.
More elaborate Dwelling Rooms are
Created, built and installed for
Their family loved ones as well.
Fathers till the ground and sow
Rows upon rows of many, many
Hybrid, cultivar or heirloom seeds.
Growing and enjoying vegetable gardens
That run the gamut from a to z.
They are the finders of lost pet cats, puppies,
Homework, wallets, address books
Car keys, lost sanity and the
Occasional box turtle.
Fathers spend their lives repairing
And replacing just about
Everything from broken bicycles
To broken windows and
Everything else in between. As well as catching the tears from
A daughter’s broken heart.
The only time a father cannot repair
Or replace anything is at his own funeral –-
When the tears of his children
Pour down as raindrops
Without visible end.
Psalm 90:10
“The days of our lives are seventy years;
And if by reason of strength eighty years,
Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow;
For it is soon cut off and we fly away.”
IN MEMORIAM TO MY FATHER
DONALD RALPH MAGAW
SEPTEMBER 7, 1929-OCTOBER 5, 2009
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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