Daddy's day

Her hair up in a ponytail, her favorite dress tied with a bow

Today was Daddy’s Day at school, and she couldn’t wait to go

But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home

Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say

What to tell her classmates, on this Daddy’s Day

But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone

And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home

But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all

About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls

  There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet

Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called, a student from the class

To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed

At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare

Each of them were searching, for a man that wasn’t there

“Where’s her daddy at?”  She heard a boy call out

“She probably doesn’t have one.”  Another student dared to shout

And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say

“Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.”

The words did not offend her, as she smiled at her friends

And looked back at her teacher, who told her to begin

And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak

And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique

“My Daddy couldn’t be here, because he lives so far away

But I know he wishes he could be, with me on this day

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know

All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so

He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike

He surprised me with pink roses, and he taught me to fly a kite

We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone

And though you cannot see him, I’m not standing all alone

‘Cause my daddy’s always with me, even though we are apart

I know because he told me, he’ll forever be here in my heart”

With that her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest

Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears

Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years

For she stood up for the love, of a man not in her life

Doing what was best for her, doing what was right

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd

She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud

“I love my daddy very much, he’s my shining star

And if he could he’d be here, but heavens just too far

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it’s like he never went away”

And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day

And to her mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise

A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes

Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside

Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side

“I know you’re with me daddy.”  To the silence she called out

And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed

But there placed on her desktop, was a beautiful fragrant pink rose

And a child was blessed, if only a moment, by the love of her shining bright star

And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far

~Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul, and, Stories for a Teen's  Heart 2. ~