A father's unconditional love

Andrew Heanngam Pamei *

Unconditional Love is very common among fathers but only few can show or express it. Fathers are perfect being to show love. Of course they are not as expressive as our mother, friendly like our brother, cute like our sister but in the end, they are the ones who deeply care enough about us. For most of us, our fathers are our role model, our idol, our mentor and our teacher. For some, this special man is our own best friend. No matter how many views people give about father, to me he is an epitome of an unconditional love.

He is the backbone of the family, without him no one would give support like how he gives to the family. He would often appear numb and emotionless, sometimes hiding all his feelings, appearing strong and unfaltering and not showing any signs of weakness. Even though he might be a burly man that seems to be as numb and cold as ice and as mad as madman, beneath his mask that covers all the toughness, deep inside, he is a sensitive man with soft heart. I personally think that there's a profound reason behind why he behave this way. Perhaps, because he wants his family, feel that there is always someone who we could run to. Because once the father in the family gives up, the family soon follows.

No matter how hard his life is, after a whole day's work leaving the family and after enduring all the hardships, he would set his goal and inspiration saying that there would be a day when he could spend time entirely with his family. He also just had a simple dream, the dream of seeing his children get properly educated, lead a well qualified and successful lives and dreams of seeing his family live a very happy and wonderful life someday. This is his only dream. Fathers really never lived for themselves.

They are also people who commit mistakes and often they also believe in the things that they think is right. They know this and all they ask for is understanding, understanding from his family especially from us, his children. To understand them would mean a lot to them, it would show the love and appreciation they truly deserve. Fathers are one of the greatest gifts of God into our lives. We can do nothing than to understand them and love them. Perhaps this is a very simple way to show how we appreciate and love them. And here is a short story which is told of a father's love for his son.

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 year old highly educated son. Suddenly a sparrow perched on their window. The father then asked his son, "What is that?" The son replied "It's a sparrow". After few minutes, the father asked his son the 2nd time, "What is that?" The Son said, "Father, I have told you just now that it's a sparrow. After a little while, the old father again asked his son the 3rd time, "What is that?"

This time some expression of irritation was felt in the son's tone when he said to his father with a rebuff, "It's a sparrow, a sparrow, a sparrow".

A little after, the father again asked his son the 4th time, "What is that?"

This time the son shouted at his father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A SPARROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later the father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his son was born. On opening a page, he asked his son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:-

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a sparrow was sitting on the window. My son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a sparrow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not get irritated at all. I rather have affection for my son and love him all the more".

While the little child asked him 23 times "what is that?", the father felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the father asked his son the same question just 4 times, the son felt irritated and annoyed.

This story shows a father's unconditional love for their children however unfaithful and uncaring they may be to him. Fathers have always showed their selfless love. They have cared for us from the very first second of our life. They have crossed all the mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make us a person presentable in the society today. Let us make our fathers happy for all that he is to us.

Fathers show their love and strength largely through action, but when they do have something to say, it's usually memorable and with fewer words spoken and deliberate forethought. They are the ones who would encourage and build confidence. They are the ones who would encourage saying, "No matter what happens to you in life, push yourself up to the limit and keep moving forward in life as strong as you were." Mothers care and protect but fathers are the ones who would encourage us to push ourselves to the limits. Our father's love is boundless that he helps us remain safe while expanding our experiences and increasing our confidence.

Fathers love us the most. I know it isn't easy to be one but at least some beings know how to be one, it is a special vocation and these beings would sacrifice their time, money, effort and they let us feel and know what unconditional love is. All fathers may not be perfect physically and mentally but their love is always perfect, they are perfect in showing and giving love. This article is a tribute to every father, a mark of respect and expression of thanks, who gave their all, showed their unconditional love and affection.

I pray that every father enjoy the blessing of long life, good health of mind and body and see the fruit of their selfless, unconditional love they have bestowed upon their children. And a very special thanks to my dad for raising me up to more than I can be.

Happy Father's day (June 15, 2014). God bless you all.