He worked hard all his life…so many hours on his feet….
trying to make enough money so all his ends could meet.
He was proud of the work he’d done…and was usually undaunted
as he provided his family with everything they ever needed…
If not everything they ever wanted.
But now his life was coming to an end…and with his children gathered round
he asked them all one question…accompanied by a frown…
“I wonder, have you all been happy?” he asked,
“I know how often we’ve been poor….
when I look back on our life together…
I wanted to give you so much more…”
“I tried hard and I’m sorry for all the things you’ve been denied
All those things you may have wanted…all those things I couldn’t provide.”
The eldest daughter stopped him…and wiped a tear from off his eye.
“Poppa”, she said, “stop right there…Poppa,” she said, “don’t cry…”
“We know how much you loved us…have no regrets no fear…
for whenever we needed or wanted you…we knew that you’d be here.”
“You were here to share our laughter…you were here to share our tears
You were here to relish in our joys…you were here to ease our fears…”
“The children all moved closer…their expressions gracious and undaunted
“Poppa,” they said, “you gave us your time….
which is all we ever wanted.”
“We know how hard you worked…
there’s no reason to be sad
because as hard as you worked to provide for us…
you worked that much harder at being Dad.”
Yes, he thought the work he did was important…
and it was…but in the end his children all conceded…
The time he spent being just being Dad…
was all they ever needed.
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