雷蒙德·L.莫尔黑德/
Tosuccessfullyraiseanychildthesedaysishardwork, tosaytheleast, “what-ifs”thatcomeswitheachchildwhentheyareborn, , ?
MyanswercameonFather’,“It’snotthegiftbutthethoughtthatcounts.”SoitwasonthisdaywhenIwasgiventwocraftboxesasgiftsfrommygrowndaughter, onethesizeofacigarboxandtheotherthesizeofalargeringbox.
“Daddy,”shesaid,“pleasesitwithmeonthefloorlikeyoudidyearsbefore.”Sowesatdownuponthefloortogetherandshehandedmethefirstbox.“Openit.”Insidewasaletterandwhatappearedtobeachild’scollectionofoddsandends.“Daddy,”shesaid,“readtheletterfirst.”
DearDad,
TheolderIgetthemoreIrealizewhatanimportantinfluenceyou’’sDayIdecidedtogiveyoutwomementoboxes, bothfilledwithspecialmemoriesandthingsIkeepclosetomyheart, .
.
-Aid, toremindmeofallthescrapesandcutsyoufixedonmyelbowsandkneesteachingmetoridemyfirstbike.
, forallthespecialmade-upbedtimestoriesyoureadtousallatnight.
’slearningflashcards, asymbolofyourteachingmeandhelpingmethroughmyyearsofschoolevenwhenIthoughtIknewitall.
, fromyourspecialonesyouplayedwithwhenyouwereinschool.
.
.
, symbolofallthebrokenheartsandheartachesyouhelpedmethrough.
.
.
, enjoyandrespect.
, .
, toletyouknowhowsweetthesememoriesarestilltome.
, aphotoofmychildrenandme, toremindmetoteachmychildrenallthatyouandMomhavetaughtme, andtosharewiththemthelovethatonlyparentslikeyoubothhavegiventome.
Ihadtearsinmyeyesandanacheinmyheartasshegavethesecond, smallestboxtome.“Openitnow, please.”shesaid.
InsideIfoundanothernoteandinthisoneshewrote:
Daddy,
