There’s a moment I shared with my father when I was 12 years old that I will never forget.
It was the day of my bat mitzvah service. I helped to lead the service, chanted my
Haftorah, and then did the traditional walk-through of the congregation after the Torah is put back in the ark. This is when you walk up and down the aisles of the sanctuary, while congregants shake your hand and offer you words of congratulations as you walk by.
My family was of course sitting in the front row. And when I was in front of my father during this walk, I reached out to shake his hand. But my father didn’t shake my hand. Instead he reached his arms out and pulled me close to him, into the tightest, warmest hug I think I’ve ever had even to this day. After we moved apart from each other, I looked up at him, and saw tears of pride running down his face as he looked down at me. I know I will never forget the look on his face that Saturday morning. I will also never forget how it felt to have him feel so proud of me.
Though I know there are many other days I made my father proud, none of them has stayed with me throughout the years quite as vividly as that day has.
Four years ago I lost my father, and not one day has gone by since then that I haven’t thought about him. When I have a decision to make, I often wonder what he would he would have advised. I look at old photographs often. Of course, when he was here, I’m sure there were many days I took him for granted, when I didn’t expect to get married without him being there to walk me down the aisle, or when I never imagined he wouldn’t be here to see the new house my husband and I bought six months ago.
This was before I truly understood the definition of “Life is too short.” Unfortunately, I now really know what those words mean.
I have heard stories from so many people who lost someone, regretting not saying certain things to them before they were gone. I am lucky enough to have so many wonderful memories of my father, and many visits and conversations. He knew I loved him, and I know he loved me.
Though Father’s Day is the perfect day to honor the No. 1 man in your life, don’t forget about him the other 364 days of the year. Take more opportunities to call or visit him just to say “hello.” You don’t need to wait for a special day, because if you are anything like me, and your father is anything like mine was, just hearing each other’s voice at the other end of the telephone will be enough to make it a special day. |
