WRITE2SHINE...
Words to Encourage, Motivate & Inspire
A Love Promotion
A LOVE PROMOTION
(A Father's Day Tribute)
By Janice Ramkissoon
June is the time of year we choose to say ‘thank you for loving me dad’. It is a time to show appreciation to those who have made sacrifices to bring up their children in a safe, secure and loving environment; preparing them for adulthood. Many sons and daughters will be taking their fathers out to celebrate; others bringing them gifts. Some are far apart, and so their fathers will be looking forward to that long-distance phone call or letter. I on the other hand, will be thanking God for all the men who have contributed to my development over the years.
I grew up without knowing my dad, and therefore missed out on that father-daughter relationship. However, I have been blessed with various role models, who I view as father figures in my life.
My first introduction to a father figure, was my granddad (the late Wilmot Augustus Peddie). The time had come for him to play the role of a father, to a grandchild – yours truly. I’m sure it wasn’t a role he was looking forward to, and who could blame him? He had spent his life bringing up five children, so I can imagine he was looking forward to putting his feet up and enjoying his latter years as he approached retirement. He was placed with a choice and he chose to father me. This makes me love him even more. The one thing I regret is not fully recognising the importance of his presence in my world and thanking him for investing in my life.
When granddad died it left a void, but I soon recognised that though my biological father was absent from my life, I have never been short of fatherly advice and loving care. Whenever I needed answers, God would place someone in my path. Some have passed without me ever letting them know how important they were in my life. The late Rev. Dennis Millwood was one such person, but he died before I was old enough or brave enough to let him know. He was the pastor of my then home church, the Sligoville Baptist Church, St. Catherine, Jamaica (where most of my modern day heroes and heroines can be traced back to).
During my teen years I often got fatherly advice from Paul Reid aka Bro. Pablo (New Initiatives Youth and Community Assoc.) my then youth worker. He’s young enough to be a big brother yet wise enough to turn to for fatherly advice. I remember him being there to offer advice throughout the key aspects of my life, such as my college and university years, when I just started to learn about stress. Majority of the time his wife, Ella, was the one offering the advice but he would always have an endnote to sum it all up. Then he was offering advice on dating issues. He was there again throughout the grieving process, having lost my granddad, and was experiencing loss of this nature for the first time. But it didn’t stop there. Ella was the one who encouraged me to further my education, but he was there by her side to support me on my graduation day and then again on my wedding day.
Though he would hate it if I ever utter the word ‘dad’ to him (being one not old enough to be my biological father) how could I not acknowledge the importance of his presence in my life? Well, as he is a father to the community that he serves, I would like to say: "‘Happy Father’s Day’ – You’re a father of many, but you’ve certainly made a difference to this one life. Thank you."
There are other men who have been influential in my development and who I also admire in the way they relate to their children (effectively setting an example for others to follow). Today I celebrate all those men and others in the world like them, who take the time to extend their love to not just their own children but to others like me, who at times are desperately in need of that love.
HERE'S WISHING YOU A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY and may you live to reap the fruits of your labour.
© June, 2006 J.S. Ramkissoon
Edited 2008
I grew up without knowing my dad, and therefore missed out on that father-daughter relationship. However, I have been blessed with various role models, who I view as father figures in my life.
My first introduction to a father figure, was my granddad (the late Wilmot Augustus Peddie). The time had come for him to play the role of a father, to a grandchild – yours truly. I’m sure it wasn’t a role he was looking forward to, and who could blame him? He had spent his life bringing up five children, so I can imagine he was looking forward to putting his feet up and enjoying his latter years as he approached retirement. He was placed with a choice and he chose to father me. This makes me love him even more. The one thing I regret is not fully recognising the importance of his presence in my world and thanking him for investing in my life.
When granddad died it left a void, but I soon recognised that though my biological father was absent from my life, I have never been short of fatherly advice and loving care. Whenever I needed answers, God would place someone in my path. Some have passed without me ever letting them know how important they were in my life. The late Rev. Dennis Millwood was one such person, but he died before I was old enough or brave enough to let him know. He was the pastor of my then home church, the Sligoville Baptist Church, St. Catherine, Jamaica (where most of my modern day heroes and heroines can be traced back to).
During my teen years I often got fatherly advice from Paul Reid aka Bro. Pablo (New Initiatives Youth and Community Assoc.) my then youth worker. He’s young enough to be a big brother yet wise enough to turn to for fatherly advice. I remember him being there to offer advice throughout the key aspects of my life, such as my college and university years, when I just started to learn about stress. Majority of the time his wife, Ella, was the one offering the advice but he would always have an endnote to sum it all up. Then he was offering advice on dating issues. He was there again throughout the grieving process, having lost my granddad, and was experiencing loss of this nature for the first time. But it didn’t stop there. Ella was the one who encouraged me to further my education, but he was there by her side to support me on my graduation day and then again on my wedding day.
Though he would hate it if I ever utter the word ‘dad’ to him (being one not old enough to be my biological father) how could I not acknowledge the importance of his presence in my life? Well, as he is a father to the community that he serves, I would like to say: "‘Happy Father’s Day’ – You’re a father of many, but you’ve certainly made a difference to this one life. Thank you."
There are other men who have been influential in my development and who I also admire in the way they relate to their children (effectively setting an example for others to follow). Today I celebrate all those men and others in the world like them, who take the time to extend their love to not just their own children but to others like me, who at times are desperately in need of that love.
HERE'S WISHING YOU A HAPPY FATHER’S DAY and may you live to reap the fruits of your labour.
© June, 2006 J.S. Ramkissoon
Edited 2008
