Our father was our shining star

Jun 07, 2009

HER hair up in a pony tail, her favourite dress tied with a bow Today was Daddy’s Day at school, and she could not wait to go. Her siblings had chosen her to represent them all for fear that they would get all emotional in front of a big crowd.

By Gertrude Angom

HER hair up in a pony tail, her favourite dress tied with a bow Today was Daddy’s Day at school, and she could not wait to go. Her siblings had chosen her to represent them all for fear that they would get all emotional in front of a big crowd.

But her mother told her she should probably stay home. The kids might not understand, if she went to school without her father.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say. What to tell her schoolmates, on this Daddy’s Day. Every kid was expected to be escorted by a father or father figure.

The girls went to school, eager to tell their schoolmates about a dad they never see, a dad who never calls. There were daddies all around the room for everyone to meet.

Children squirmed impatiently, anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called a student from the class. To introduce their daddy, as the minutes slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare, each of them searching, for a man who was not there.

“Where’s her daddy?”
She heard a boy call out.
“She probably does not have one,” another student said.

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 and looked back at her teacher, who told her to begin.
With hands clasped behind her back, she began to speak.

And from the mouth of that dear child, came words incredibly unique:
“My Daddy could not be here, because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes that 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 he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to be productive.
He surprised me with beautiful presents and taught me to be respectful and obedient to authority. He spoke of God’s love for me and said we should accept Christ in our lives.

We shared each day’s story and he is the most humorous person I’ve ever known.

And though you cannot see him, I am not standing all alone. “Cause my daddy’s always with me, even though we are apart I know because he told me, he will be forever in my heart.”

With that her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favourite dress.

Somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother and sisters sat in tears. Proudly watching Alison, who was wise beyond her years. She stood up for the love of a man not in her life right now.

Doing what was best for her, doing what was right. 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, my hero. If he could he would be here, but heaven’s just too far.”

Sometimes when I close my eyes, it is like he never went away.”
Then she closed her pretty eyes, and saw him there that day. As her mother glanced about, she witnessed with surprise.

A room full of dads and children, all starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them. Who knows what they felt inside.

Perhaps for just a second, they saw him at her side. “I know you are with me Daddy,” to the silence she called out.

What happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt. No one could explain, for they had closed.

The strength with which Alison spoke of her father, made them all sigh with pride. A child was blessed, if for a moment, by the love of her shining star. And given the gift of believing, that heaven is not too far.

Send your articles and
photographs honouring that special man who has been a father figure to you, to: The Features Editor,
The New Vision, P.O. Box 9815, Kampala, or email: features@newvision.co.ug; or text message: 0715911654 or 0783 258644 to reach us not later than June 17

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});