If I had known then what I know now…. Wow! The topics that could follow such an introductory statement! Yet I am thinking of children while listening to a country western song extolling the love and innocence of a little girl for her daddy. On and on he croons “there goes my life” in celebration of the little girl in curls whom he loves more than he can imagine. Wait until that little girl hits the teenage years and the exalted father is reduced to a mumbling idiot with nothing to offer her!
I suppose my concept of the whole matter is prejudiced by my own life experience but who can help that??! The little girl whose world so revolved around the daddy-daughter relationship just a few years ago has been reduced to a somewhat estranged relationship that only offers a muted “uh-huh” to my parting line “I love you.” How can this be? I not only changed her diapers and bathed her but taught her the love of reading, fishing, bike riding, and so many other wonderful life experiences. I, like the dad songwriter, went to every school activity and supported her every endeavor. I introduced her to God, Shakespeare, Poe, nature, and the intrinsic details of life as we encountered it. Pouring into her all that I have and all that I am but….. Today? “Uh-huh.”
Where is this going? You might wonder. I wouldn’t change the songwriter’s heart felt expression at all. No doubt he will need his present emotion to ride out the ones to come. I suppose I am coming to the conclusive thought, “If I had known then what I know now….I would do it all over again.” As a testament to a father’s love, unrequited or not, I have to say that children, with all their disappointments, are still our blessing. I suppose that the ability to make such a statement is a throwback to the God character that lies within us due to His making us “in His own image” and it is certainly reflective of how He must feel about us.
So? I say “Sing on!” to the cowboy crooner and plod on to the parents employed in the task of teaching their children. Personally, I am hoping my children will one day come to the point that mature children often do….to the place where Dad is elevated to the place he once occupied but in a new enlightened manner that allows adult interaction and mutual enjoyment resulting in satisfaction all the way around.
I suppose my concept of the whole matter is prejudiced by my own life experience but who can help that??! The little girl whose world so revolved around the daddy-daughter relationship just a few years ago has been reduced to a somewhat estranged relationship that only offers a muted “uh-huh” to my parting line “I love you.” How can this be? I not only changed her diapers and bathed her but taught her the love of reading, fishing, bike riding, and so many other wonderful life experiences. I, like the dad songwriter, went to every school activity and supported her every endeavor. I introduced her to God, Shakespeare, Poe, nature, and the intrinsic details of life as we encountered it. Pouring into her all that I have and all that I am but….. Today? “Uh-huh.”
Where is this going? You might wonder. I wouldn’t change the songwriter’s heart felt expression at all. No doubt he will need his present emotion to ride out the ones to come. I suppose I am coming to the conclusive thought, “If I had known then what I know now….I would do it all over again.” As a testament to a father’s love, unrequited or not, I have to say that children, with all their disappointments, are still our blessing. I suppose that the ability to make such a statement is a throwback to the God character that lies within us due to His making us “in His own image” and it is certainly reflective of how He must feel about us.
So? I say “Sing on!” to the cowboy crooner and plod on to the parents employed in the task of teaching their children. Personally, I am hoping my children will one day come to the point that mature children often do….to the place where Dad is elevated to the place he once occupied but in a new enlightened manner that allows adult interaction and mutual enjoyment resulting in satisfaction all the way around.
3 comments:
Wow! I am not sure what to say. This is very well writen and is so true. I know we have joked in the past if I knew then what I know now I would have just gotten pets. However we all know that is so far from the truth. We would do it all over again maybe in a different way but we would do it none the less. We hurt kids, they hurt us, it is a cycle that we go through until we all grow up and learn what love really is. Hurt is just a small part of love that only makes us stronger. I don't know of to many fathers that have died for their kids. I do know that with Jesus Christ dying for us and yes he hurt and was hurt, something far grater was born. Ture Love!
That is Awesome & Very Well Written-right down to the last word. Our children are our lives and we try to be their friend, parent, etc. and try to teach them what we think is right. We just hope for the best and handle everything as it comes. Life is way to short so try and live each day to the fullest and include God!!!!
I must say, as a recent graduate of daddy's raising, I hit that point of "uh huh's" too. I have nothing to offer you in way of advice from a little girl's perspective but that she is going through an awkward time right now, and it's gotta be so weird for her. When you thought that you were such a wonderful person because your parents always told you that, and your peers make you think you are a few fries short of a happy meal, it's hard to know what is what. It will pass. If you change how you act, things might get ugly, but just keep the sugary love up. You're the only guy in her life that will right now.
My parents are the most influential and intelligent people in my life, and I see that now. My parents tell me hoe proud they are of me every day. When I got married, my dad gave me a pretty little ring for my right hand so that I wouldn't forget about him when I got married. I got the best birthday present for my 21st b-day- my dad gave me a card and he wrote everything that he loved about me in it. He said he didn't have enough money to buy me a good present, but I think God did that on purpose because I was more pleased with the card!
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