Father’s strength

Two years ago, I had a wonderful opportunity to visit Australia for a week. One of the places my brother brought me and my children to was the Wildlife Sydney Zoo, previously known as Sydney Wildlife World. It’s Australia’s Animal Kingdom and an excellent introduction to Australian animals. Of course, I saw the famous kangaroos (such huge strong hind legs!) and I actually touched and played with the koala bears (their fur was so soft).

But there was a bird that caught my attention. The label stated it was a Bush Stone-curlew, a large, ground-dwelling bird of extraordinary grace and beauty. It was formerly known as the Bush Thick-knee. The bird I saw that afternoon was one-legged. I thought it might have had the other leg tucked up to keep warm, but when it walked , I saw it was just using one leg.

It remained motionless even as I was already tapping on the glass and waving my hands at it. It looked frozen on one leg. Later, I would learn that when it is disturbed, it really freezes motionless, often in odd-looking postures. No wonder. I could have been really disturbing its peace 🙂

I’m the exact opposite. When I am disturbed, I tend to get agitated and restless. I start talking and moving about, sometimes doing unnecessary things. It would take a great effort on my part to sit still while feeling anxious.

When you look at Bush Stone-curlew, you wouldn’t think it a strong bird. From its ungainly appearance and habit of freezing motionless, you’d think it was a timid bird. But the truth is, they are surefooted, fast and agile on the ground.

And although they seldom fly during daylight hours, they are far from clumsy in the air; flight is rapid and direct on long, broad wings.

Strength can’t really be gauged from one’s appearance. I remember my late husband.

From weighing 240 lbs., cancer shrunk his body until he weighed just 140 lbs. And yet all throughout the years of his sickness, my husband continued to show the strength of a normal person and also that of a father.

Despite his frailty, I was witness to his inner strength. He had patience and steadfastness. Like the Bush Stone-curlew and its one leg, my husband would remain unperturbed even in pain. He remained strong and quiet, even motionless especially when the pain would wrack his body.

He would just grit his teeth and refrain from complaining. It was hard looking at him when he was at his lowest point but I was full of admiration when he continued to show to our three children that he was a reliable and strong father despite his affliction. He never gave up.

He had a sense of humor. Cancer didn’t take away his joy. He could still laugh at my corny and senseless jokes. One time, while holding on to his crutch, I heard him cracking a joke to a friend who was visiting him. I saw his friend enjoying his story. Who would have thought he was a sick man?

My husband was God’s gift to me and my children. Even on borrowed time, he taught me selflessness, humility and gentleness. In fact, people think I was the stronger personality at home.

But they were wrong. I bow down to his inner strength and fortitude which was all the more admirable when the cancer was steadily making his body weak.

I think the strength of fathers is God’s gift.

God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, the warmth of a summer sun, the calm of a quiet sea, the generous soul of nature, the comforting arm of night, the wisdom of the ages, the power of the eagle’s flight, the joy of a morning in spring, the faith of a mustard seed, the patience of eternity, the depth of a family need. Then God combined these qualities. When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete. And so, He called it … “DAD!”
…Author Unknown

And what can we do, as sons and daughters of the fathers God gave us?

We stand to gain great blessings if we honor our fathers. “Honor your father in everything you do and say, so that you may receive his blessing. When parents give their blessing, they give strength to their children’s homes.” (Sirach 3:8-9)

Though my late father was not a perfect father I thank God for the grace of forgiving him and honoring him before he died. Today, I reap the blessings he has prayed for us.

And to my husband who is now basking in the joy of God’s presence, thank you for the inner strength you unfailingly showed us. I sorely miss your presence but your absence has also taught me how to harness my inner strength, so that even if there are times I feel like standing petrified on one leg, my flight, like that of the Bush Stone-curlew will still be rapid and direct because I have you and God as my long, broad wings.

Dong, by the life you lived, our children, too, learned to use their inner strength, by God’s grace.
By how all fathers live, their children learn from it.

By God’s unconditional love, we are always assured of a Heavenly Father who will accept us as we are.

So God bless all fathers in this lifetime, in whatever culture they’re in. Happy Father’s Day to you!
May you have the strength that only God, our Divine Father, can give. With that, I believe you cannot go wrong.