Father's Day: Another of Those Occasions

We set aside this day to pay tribute to those men who sacrificed to give us the things we

needed--who did without to give us more. The men who taught us respect.

The men who cheered us on when we were just mediocre.

The men who picked us up when we stumbled.

The men who loved us unconditionally.

Some of us don't know that man.

For some of us, choosing a simple card can be excruciating. 

All those beautiful words like 'always been there for me'. 

My brother asked me last week if I had a hard time 

finding a card that didn't seem like a lie. 

Yes. 

Every. Single. Time.

Some years, I don't bother sending a card.

When I call, he says, 'It's just another day for me.'

That's what he says on his birthday.

That's what he says at Christmas.

For years, I punished myself by trying to win his approval.

Achievements didn't bring the praise I sought.

Effort never paid back.

Though I never felt love from this man, I tried so hard to make him love me.

I tried to stir emotions that didn't exist within his soul.

Many times in years past, I sent homemade cards.

My own heartfelt words--or wishes... 

But the words weren't truth.

I still have the poem I wrote him in 1980.

I wanted him to say how wonderful it was.

I wanted him to say how much it meant to him.

And so, it was hard for me to understand the love of our Heavenly Father.

To say 'He loves us as His children' meant little to me.

Am I a disappointment to Him as well?

(It took me awhile, but I now know the love of God.

The whole in my heart is filled.)

So today, I called my dad.

He told me he got my brother's card.

He said it was the best card he's ever gotten.

I sent him this one...

 Inside it says:

You're in my chair.