Learning from my Four Fathers

Learning from my Four Fathers

Four Fathers

I get a haunting pit in my stomach now when Father’s Day approaches. Don’t get me wrong, I love the holiday, but working at a mortuary puts a twist on how you see special days like these. Every phone call has the potential to be a child/spouse letting us know that their father/husband has passed on. Or worse yet, a father is calling to inquire about how he should go about honoring his lost child. It’s a day I would rather not work but it does remind me how blessed I am to still have my dad around.

Today I want to honor the four father figures in my life by acknowledging a singular trait that I most admire in each of them.

Perhaps you will feel inspired to consider the lessons your father figures have taught you.

Sacrifice: A father makes sacrifices for their family. My own father is a perfect example. I cant tell you how many miles he has driven, or how many hours of overtime he has worked, to make sure us kids were always comfortable. The amazing thing about my dad is that he did all of this while still being active in our lives. There have been times where my dad has gone more than 24 hours without sleep, yet I still knew if I turned and looked behind the backstop at my little league game, I would see him watching and I could hear his voice cheering me on. I was ignorant of the sacrifice growing up, but now that I’m older and have begun making sacrifices for my loved ones, my appreciation has grown ten-fold for my “old man”.

A father makes sacrifices for their family.

Wisdom: A father will always share his wisdom. My stepfather is the wisest man I have ever met. The lessons he has learned in life have always been shared with me so that I could learn from them, and perhaps avoid making the same mistake. When I get into situation where I have a hard time making a decision, his voice and reason echo in my head, and help me to the right path. This is a gift I cannot give back, but I can surely pass it on, and for that I am most grateful.

A father will always share his wisdom.

Patience: A father is patient. This one is the most difficult. My uncle, Terry, is a very, VERY, patient man. He has this amazing ability to actually sit and think hard on what he is going to say or decide before he actually does it. The result? A soft tone when he disciplines his children, and an undeniable trust from his superiors. His children know that their father is not quick to judge them of harshly discipline them, and his bosses know they can trust him to take his time and make the right decision in any situation. I have yet to meet someone with the quiet strength of my uncle.

A father is patient.

Humor: A father is never too serious. My uncle Roy is the funniest person in my family. He is serious when need be, but he believes that this world is a funny place and it should be laughed at. It’s amazing to watch his children’s eyes light up as he re-tells a story, or watch his wife burst into laughter as he whispers something in her ear. All of this, for the sake of a punch line. My uncle Roy is a very successful man, and I think much of that success is from his decision to never take life, or himself, too seriously.

A father is never too serious.

I am truly lucky to say I have these prolific men in my life. There is always someone there to make time for me, someone to give me wisdom, someone to be patient with my mistakes, and someone always willing to make me smile.

Dad, Kev, Terry and Roy, I love you. Happy Father’s Day.

|| what do you think?

Who are you celebrating this Father’s Day?

What lessons have your father-figures taught you?

Molly Keating
Molly Keating
Molly grew up in and around funeral homes her entire life. In 2009 she began working for O'Connor Mortuary and found a bridge between her passion for writing and her interest in grief and bereavement. In 2016 she earned Certification in the field of Thanatology, the study of Death, Dying and Bereavement. She is honored to be able to write about these taboo topics with knowledge, compassion, and a unique perspective.

44 Comments

  1. Becky Finch Lomaka says:

    Hi Michael,
    Thank you for a wonderful blog! I, too, have gained a much stronger appreciation for my Dad and the sacrifices he made for our family now that I am older. I know Sunday will be a difficult day for him, as it will be his first Father’s Day since my brother died. It will be a day of memories, supporting him and helping him through. The “firsts” after a death of a loved one are always the worst.

    Sunday will also be filled with the joy of celebrating my husband, who is an incredible father to our two boys. Since the day our oldest son was born, he has been a natural as this fatherhood thing. He is the quiet leader of our family; one of the things I love most about him is that his actions speak volumes. Although he easily expresses his love for our family verbally, it’s his daily actions that continue to show me and our sons how very loved we are by him. I hope we can shower him with love to let him know we feel the same about him!

    Becky

    • Michael Thomas says:

      I agree, your husband is an awesome dude.

      I hope that this fathers day brings your dad joy with the love he receives from his family, but is also healing as he still grieves for your brother. A big special Happy Fathers day to Mr. Finch from me

  2. Joanna says:

    Michael,

    Very sweet tribute to your fathers!! I enjoyed reading your post. Myself, I never been much for Father’s Day. I have never been much for Father’s Day. My dad was not much of a father so now a days I “Celebrate” Father’s Day for Joaquin. Watching him instill his Wisdom, Humor and Patience into Malia little soul is beautiful to watch. And to watch Malia take it all in, for she is after all daddy’s little girl, is heart quenching. I love it. Maybe because I didn’t have that as a daughter, it amazes me to see it in my own daughter. Nonetheless, as is with life, things change. Oddly enough, my father has become the best grandpa a gal can ask for!! So, he has made up for it.

    Again, sweet blog,

    Joanna.

    • Michael Thomas says:

      I’m glad everything has come around for your little one! I feel sorry for you missing out as a kid, but I think you would agree with me when i say its so awesome to “start new” with Malia, and move past your childhood memories. Thanks JoJo!

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