My father is not perfect. He has short temper and he speaks
really loud which will give the impression that he always yells. Plus, he also
yells a lot. But in my entire existence, never once did he hit me. One reason
maybe is that I (almost always) obey him and the other is that he doesn’t hit
us for small reasons. He’ll give warnings which will really make me stop the
wrong things I am doing
He also loves to give us things. He is never tightwad
towards us. I remember that of all the things I asked from him, there were only
two things he did not give. One is a skateboard; and the other was a motorcycle.
The first one, he declined in a very gentle manner explaining to me the dangers
of it, and the second he declined with the same reason as the first one but he
added something. He said “Bigay na lang kita kotse putooh1” (I’ll just give you a car someday son). I didn’t
believe him with the car thing until he actually did, last year. Last month, we
went to Marikina and we dropped by a shoe store and I told him I want a pair of
shoes. We agreed to “split the bill” but I have no cash. I said I’ll pay him
when I withdraw which never really happened. As a working professional, when I “miscalculate”
my finances and end up temporarily bankrupt, I’ll call him to “borrow” money
which I never really pay. Yes, until now that I am already a licensed engineer,
he still gives to me sometimes voluntarily. We’ll go to the store owned by his
friend and he’ll say “Kuha mo na gusto mo.” (Get the things you want.). He’ll
put gas in the car for me, give me money even when I do not ask, etc. I know
that we are not rich but I know too that as long as he can provide, he will not
deprive me. And that thing he never said to me directly, but I know.
I don’t lie to him because I know that he’ll know that I’m
lying. Maybe, it’s just that I am a really bad in lying or that he knows me
really well. Whatever the real reason is, I’m just grateful I can’t lie to him.
One time I came home past 4:00am when I told him I’ll be home at around 1am
(eitherways, he’ll be deep asleep), he asked me in the morning what time did I arrive.
I said “Late na ‘pa.” (It was late Papa) trying to dodge the conversation, then
he said in a loud voice “4:30am! You think I do not know?”. I just smiled. It’s
my white flag. After that, we ate at the same table and discussed things that
we usually talk about as if nothing happened. He forgets my wrongs easily, you
see.
He is not perfect and far from being one – as any human is. But
there is one thing I am so sure about our relationship – his love for me. That I
am his happy thought, that he will still love me no matter what I do. That even
during the times that he is mad at me, he still loves me. And that as long as
he is alive, I can count on him.
You see, because of goodness of my father, I had a glimpse
of the goodness of God as a perfect Father who loves me unreasonably. Our
fathers on earth are far from being perfect (just like us!) but I believe that
when God created them, they were meant to reflect his love and goodness to us
in their Fatherhood. I just hope that we all open our eyes and see them for the
blessing that most of them are.
To my father and to all the fathers out there, Happy Fathers’
Day!
1”Putooh” in Indian language means “my child”
