Happy Father’s Day

With Father’s Day coming up this weekend, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to write about my father, Tommy Greene (affectionately still known as Daddy, to me).
When life in general is studied, it is truly amazing how much time and thought God put into what we all needed and how our lives would be structured best.
Mothers are given to us for nurturing, gentleness and love. The one to kiss away our tears, hug away our fears, and to listen with a kind, open heart to our worries and troubles. It is her side of the bed that we climb in to in the middle of the night, when awoken with a nightmare.
Fathers, I feel, do, and can, have these same traits, yet their role in our lives are much different. Our father is the one we look up to as “the man that can do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING!” He is the provider, the hard worker, the one that can fix anything that is broken, the playful one that will rustle and tussle in a wrestling match; and let us never, ever forget him as … the disciplinarian.
From my mother, I learned the softer side of life. She showed me how a real mother is supposed to be to her children….and I can only hope that I accomplished even half as good of a job as she did. From her, I learned the importance of a sweet heart, a caring spirit and a giving attitude. She taught me how to find a silver lining in any situation, and she taught me the lesson of “making memories” with my children/grandchildren and enjoying life, one day at a time.
From my father, I learned the “other” side of life. My brothers and I were taught, from a very young age, “A man is only as good as his word,” and “There’s nothing worse than a thief or a liar.” He taught me to work hard, respect others and their personal property, that above all, I should always be honest in all that I do and that I can do anything that I set my mind to. From him, I grew my backbone, inherited his business mind and his life’s aggression to always strive for better. He taught me the three most important things in this life are God, Family and Country.
My Daddy left this world and entered the gates of Heaven back on Feb. 17, 2012. My world has always been a little grayer since that day. I loved my Daddy with all my heart. He was the love of my life, my confidant, my mentor, my hero and my everything. The last nine years have seemed like an eternity, and yet, at the same time, the hurt seems just like yesterday!
My Daddy was raised with strong convictions; no one ever had to wonder what his opinion was on a subject. He was blunt and told it exactly like he saw it. He stood up for what he thought was right and never backed down. Daddy hung a picture in my office once that read, “Never remain neutral, For the victor will consider you part of his spoils, And the vanquished will have no room for you in his cave.” He lived by those words and taught me to do the same.
Daddy was a man who lived his life to the very fullest…. dedicated to God, his family and his friends. He was a doer on Earth, and may God continue to rest his soul in Heaven.
God truly blessed me with an awesome father. I believe I am who I am, because of him.
So, this Sunday/Father’s Day, please take time to go see your father, or call him, or do something special for him. Time flies by too fast in this life. Hold fast to your loved ones; for you never know when you too will wish you had just one more day!
Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!
I love you and am so glad God gave you to me!
I will see you again – one day – on the other side!