A Gift for Father's Day

Art says he doesn't want anything for Father's Day from me. Instead, we'll be going out for lunch with my mother on Monday to avoid the crowds.

He's always been that way. He never really wants anything for himself, but wants to get something for everybody else dear to him. During our travels, his eyes are always open for something that Tiffany might smile at or Jon might get a chuckle from.

In the old Asian way, he doesn't say the words, "I love you," easily. It's just not the way we were raised. However, our children know. How can they not?

Hmmm... but just in case they don't, let me tell them that they have always been their dad's greatest joy and brightest wonder. To Tif and Jon: Your Dad loves you more than words can possibly express.

From the time the kids were born, Art immediately set up a savings plan to automatically take money out from every paycheck for their college education. He made sure he was home for every doctor's appointment, every teacher's meeting, every sports meet. When he came home from work, he left work at work and spent the time listening to the Tif and Jon. If they needed him for anything, he would break his neck trying to be there.


I think they've come to expect that their father will always be there to bargain with the Fates to make sure his children are making the right choices, are happy, and being good people. He has detoured from his path a million times to smooth their way through every bump they've suffered. He's given them the gift of appreciating the delight and discovery they enjoy from travel and their sense of confidence that they can do what they want to do. I've always been fearful of leaving home. Art takes all our hands and shows us how to do it.

I still can't do it without Art, but the kids can. He's made sure of that from the time they were born, and knowing that they can and are two of the most kind, generous, capable children we could ever have hoped for is probably the greatest gift he receives every Father's Day.