For my father

This one is another response to the task - tribute speech writing. At first I did not understand why the student came up with a tribute letter instead of following the directions provided. However, as I was listening to her during the presentation, I was made to understand her point. I'm sharing this letter for every father to know the perception and feelings of a daughter whose father is often abroad.

You might have never told me but I know you probably envy mom for all the million letters she received from me, and how she was able to spend all her life by my side that you didn’t really get the chance to do.  All our memories from when I was little are all blurry now but I do remember us riding a bike and I guess I would like to blame you for the fact that I can’t ride one. It is probably because you made me get used to you always the one driving and when you left to work abroad there was no one there to teach me. I understand why you have to be away. I understand why we can’t celebrate Christmas or New Years together. I also understand why you can’t be with me as I grow up. I understand all of this but it doesn’t mean it does not make me sad. I miss you when you’re gone but I miss you more when you’re here. Because I know that if you’re with us, I would have to face the day that you will go again and that is harder than getting used to you not being here. I should be used to this but I’m not.  I realized I’m just ignoring the fact that you’re not here and because of that I’m really sorry. I’m sorry if I seldom talk to you and if I never really share with you. I’m sorry that because I don’t want to remember that you’re away I never really make an effort to make you feel like a part of my life. I really want you to know how I admire you for being a very strong person and how you sacrifice for your family. Because I know that if it is hard for us, it is harder for you to be on your own yet you endured all of this because you love us. You never failed to tell and make us feel your love and I am truly grateful for that. I thank you for the support and courage you always give me when I needed it the most because no matter how mom is always there for me, you made me realized that the strength  a father gives is always different. If you ever thought that you are lacking as a parent, you are not. You’re the father that I would ask for over and over again and if I were to marry someday I would choose someone like you. I see how much you love mom. I see how much you are willing to understand and accept her even in times that she’s not understandable. You love her so much that I never really saw you hurt her or shout at her. You always accept things silently that sometimes I even want you to fight back. But then after a while I understand why you always do that. You hate seeing mom cry because you love her and you don’t want her to hurt even more. I admire you for showing me how a man should love a woman. I want you to know that when you stop working, don’t ever think of yourself as worthless because all the years you spent away are more than enough. You have nothing to prove to us because no matter what state you are in, how old you can get, you will always be the father that loves us no matter what and I really thank God for creating you and giving you as my dad. I sincerely, truly and deeply love you and I hope you never forget that.