I use to think that life was different when I was a little boy. I use to think things were easy. But I see my mother tired of the work she does for me and my brother. And now I want to help her. I want to fight for her until the end. I will fight for her until the day I die.
This is my father's song. Every time I hear it, I can't help but think of him. When this song comes on, my father tends to get emotional. The lyrics hit home and the memories of the struggles he experienced pours out of his eyes through tears.
As a young child, I never experienced or saw the struggles that my father endured to get to where he is. Dad was just dad - my superhero. My childhood is filled with great memories of birthday parties, visits to the park, trips to get ice cream and lots of hugs and kisses. Little did I know that my father never experienced any of that growing up. He was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico with not much of anything. He began working at a very young age to help out his family and did not have the opportunity to get much schooling completed. You can say all odds were stacked up against him for any attempt of success. Yet, my father was born with this determination to persevere. It's in his blood - a gift from God.
He was determined to chase after the dream of going to work in the United States in order to make enough money to send to his mother. He was just a young teenager when he traveled to California. One of the stories I always remember was when he went shopping for the first time. He wasn't aware of different sizes, he just bought whatever was available. He ended up coming home with his clothing that fit him way to big. Some people might be baffled by that, but my dad didn't know about sizes or much about clothes in general. In Mexico, he wore a cloth around his torso to cover himself. It resembled a skirt - it was all he had.
He returned to Mexico, but later made his way back to the United States. This time he went to Texas and found a job in Dallas as a dishwasher. All he did was work. When payday came, money was sent to his mother immediately. He worked essentially for her. Mothers are cherished in the Mexican culture and my father kept that strong as he constantly worked harder each day to have the privilege to share his earnings with her.
My father later met and married my mother. She helped him learn English, taught him how to drive and they both helped each other grow in many areas of their lives. My parents began attending a church when I was very young. I thank God for the foundation they provided for my sister and I. Proverbs 22:6 "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it." God was always front and center of our lives. Even though I had strayed in my early twenties, God had a beautiful way of bringing us all back to our first love.
I am very proud of my father. If it wasn't for him and his determination and courage for a better life, I don't even know how my life would have turned out. He literally did it Drake style "started from the bottom".
It really amazes me when I think about. To know that a man that came from literally nothing, turned his life into a success story. That makes me happy to the point of tears. It is because he chased after his American Dream, I am now able to live mine. I don't ever want to take that for granted. It is people like him, who we see everyday, but we overlook either because their job isn't "important" or of high level, that should be applauded for their determination and hard work ethic to light a pathway for future generations.
Aside from his hard work ethic, my dad has such a loving heart. A heart full of generosity that can at times be taken for granted, but ultimately the good Lord sees his heart and always blesses him tenfold of what is not paid back to him. He sacrifices so much to provide a better life for his family. He started a business with no schooling, managed to pay off his house and cars with his ability to save and take care of his money. I could go on and on about my father. There is no end to his strength and his wisdom.
I didn't want to go through life without my father knowing how much I love him, admire him and thank him for what he has done through his life for me and for others. He works Monday through Saturday and still manages to be one of the first volunteers at church on Sundays. He makes me proud. So proud.
Dad, thank you for everything. I mean it from the bottom of my heart. All the hard work, all the times you did without just so you could help me or others, I cherish that. I am so proud of you for not being scared or intimated of this giant world. You have been an exceptional father - a man I am proud of. Thank you for providing me with a great childhood. I know you never got hugs or kisses from your parents, much less an "I love you", yet you poured that into my life. You took the road less traveled and that has made all the difference in my life and the lives of my children and so on. I pray God continues to protect and guard you all the days of your life. I want you to know that I love you so very much and I plan to make it my life mission to be a reflection of you.
Happy Birthday!
Love always,
Vickie
No comments:
Post a Comment