--------begin precious moment-------
- Daddy's Poem
- Her hair was up in a pony tail,
- her favorite dress tied with a bow.
- Today was Daddy's Day at school,
- and she couldn't wait to go.
- But her mummy tried to tell her,
- that she probably should stay home.
- Why the kids might not understand,
- if she went to school alone.
- But she was not afraid;
- she knew just what to say.
- What to tell her classmates
- of why he wasn't there today.
- But still her mother worried,
- for her to face this day alone.
- And that was why once again,
- she tried to keep her daughter home.
- But the little girl went to school
- eager to tell them all.
- About a dad she never sees
- a dad who never calls.
- Therewere daddies along the back wall,
- for everyone to meet.
- Children squirming impatiently,
- anxious in their seats
- One by one the teacher called
- a student from the class.
- To introduce their daddy,
- as seconds slowly passed.
- At last the teacher called her name,
- every child turned to stare.
- Each of them was searching,
- a man who wasn't there.
- 'Where's her daddy at?'
- She heard a boy call out.
- 'She probably doesn't have one,'
- another student dared to shout.
- And from somewhere near the back,
- she heard a daddy say,
- 'Looks like another deadbeat dad,
- too busy to waste his day.'
- The words did not offend her,
- as she smiled up at her Mum.
- And looked back at her teacher,
- who told her to go on.
- And with hands behind her back,
- slowly she began to speak.
- And out from the mouth of a child,
- came words incredibly unique.
- 'My Daddy couldn't be here,
- because he lives so far away.
- But I know he wishes he could be,
- since this is such a special day.
- And though you cannot meet him,
- I wanted you to know.
- All about my daddy,
- and how much he loves me so.
- He loved to tell me stories
- he taught me to ride my bike.
- He surprised me with pink roses,
- and taught me to fly a kite.
- We used to share fudge sundaes,
- and ice cream in a cone.
- And though you cannot see him.
- I'm not standing here
- alone.
- 'Cause my daddy's always with me,
- even though we are apart
- I know because he told me,
- he'll forever be in my heart'
- With that, her little hand reached up,
- and lay across her chest.
- Feeling her own heartbeat,
- beneath her favorite dress.
- And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
- her mother stood in tears.
- Proudly watching her daughter,
- who was wise beyond her years.
- For she stood up for the love
- of a man not in her life.
- Doing what was best for her,
- doing what was right.
- And when she dropped her hand back down,
- staring straight into the crowd.
- She finished with a voice so soft,
- but its message clear and loud.
- 'I love my daddy very much,
- he's my shining star.
- And if he could, he'd be here,
- but heaven's just too far.
- You see he is a soldier
- And died just this past year
- When a roadside bomb hit his convoy
- and taught brave men to fear.
- But sometimes when I close my eyes,
- it's like he never went away.'
- And then she closed her eyes,
- and saw him there that day.
- And to her mother's amazement,
- she witnessed with surprise.
- A room full of daddies and children,
- all starting to close their eyes.
- Who knows what they saw before them,
- who knows what they felt inside.
- Perhaps for merely a second,
- they saw him at her side.
- 'I know you're with me Daddy,'
- to the silence she called out.
- And what happened next made believers,
- of those once filled with doubt.
- Not one in that room could explain it,
- for each of their eyes had been closed.
- But there on the desk beside her,
- was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
- And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
- by the love of her shining star.
- And given the gift of believing,
- that heaven is never too far.
- Send this to the people you'll never forget and
- remember to send it also to the person that sent
- it to you. It's a short message to let them know
- that you'll never forget them.
- If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're
- in a hurry and that you've forgotten your
- friends.
- Take the time...to live and love.
- Until eternity. God bless!
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