Years ago, when I was in my 20s and had lots of time for pursing projects of interest (that would be those years before marriage and children!), I stumbled across a counted-cross stitch kit with the perfect poem that described what my dad meant to me. Like many others at that time, I had embraced the craze of needlecrafts, and this kit was not only a fun and relaxing activity, but would make a perfect gift for a special occasion. So, making the purchase, I hurried home to begin…
Here is the poem…
Many men are strong,
but very few have been able
to mix the right amount of strength
with a proportionate amount
of gentleness.
In doing so,
you get a man you can
admire, respect, and look up to,
but also a man you can talk to
who will understand and listen.
All my life
my father has given me
a feeling of security.
No matter where I go
or what happens to me,
I’ve always known he’s been
back there watching patiently
should I need him.
This security has give me
the strength to stand on my own many times.
~James B.J. Sievers
My father liked my gift and kept it hanging in his room as a reminder of how much his children loved and needed him, not just when they were small, but throughout the years.
Dad passed away in 2005. Mother left the cross stitch on the wall until very recently when she downsized to an apartment. My sister has the poem in safe keeping for me when we meet again.
For awhile I will keep the poem in my home, as a reminder of my father’s love and care. I do miss him. He has influenced me in so many ways, and I am truly grateful.
But I have in mind a new home for this craft project… It is something to be passed along from daughter to father… That plan, still in the making, comforts me and honors my father’s legacy.
Tell us about your father and the positive influence he has/had on your life.