Billy Osogo
Last Sunday was Father’s Day. A day when we stop to celebrate and appreciate the father figures in our lives. Whether biological, a guardian or someone who simply performs that function. You get the picture.
I spent sometime reflecting about my Dad. Due to the nature of his profession, he wasn’t around much (physically) as I was growing up. We however spent countless hours on the phone talking about this and that. When he’d come home for holidays he’d bring me a bag full of toys.
In my younger days, I measured his love for me in terms of material possessions. The toys, clothes, shoes, etc.
The older I grow the more I realize how limited a prism that it is.
In retrospect, I have come to realize that his greatest gift to me is his character. My Dad is one of the most gentle, kindest, most courteous human beings I have intercated with. He rarely raises his voice at anyone. He believes in diplomacy. In talking things out. He never carries a grudge. Once you talk about it, he’ll never bring it up again.
His consistency of character is what has struck me the most over the years.
How did you spend your Father’s Day?
What’s that one enduring lesson that your Father/Father figure has imparted on you?
His struggle
His self respect
I had lunch with my dad and got him a few of his favourite treats. My dad has always been a prayer warrior and always shown how He trusts God for everything in His life. He has imparted this to me.
Hey!
That’s such a wonderful gift to bequeath a child. More life to him!
The only gift my father ever gave me worth mentioning in this context, was teaching me who I never wanted to be by his wretched example. I’m grateful for this, though, because at least I can’t say he never gave me anything positive!
Hey!
I am sorry to hear that.
I hope we can all leave better examples to those coming after us.
That is a great thing to strive for, I would agree. 🙂
Since I can remember, my dad has always loved taking pictures. He would often upgrade his camera, as technology got better and better. He loves capturing family moments, whether on vacation or at lunch… The funny part is that he OFTEN will be like “Smile for a photo!” when you just put a huge spoonful of food in your mouth. Or another apparently prime photo time was some time in the morning when we are still in our PJs LOL I try to not let that annoy me, but sometimes I can’t help but feel a little aggravated about his timing. But now that I’m older, when I look at some of those photos that were taken at those “bad moments” I really appreciate them. In some cases, he managed to immortalize a great moment (with great timing). In other cases, he captured a perfectly mundane moment that is fun to remember thanks to the hint of annoyance in the facial expressions. But he certainly managed to get some good ones. I appreciate his enthusiasm and efforts to get a good photo, despite the circumstances sometimes. Maybe this is a silly answer to your question, but I was just really thinking about this the other day and it’s something I really appreciate about him.
Hey Ash 😃
That’s such a beautiful memory. Pictures have a the inimitable ability to, as your rightly said, immortalize moments.
I am happy that as you grew older you cut your Dad some slack 😂. The upside though, is that there’s no such thing as a bad picture when it comes to kids. The kid could be snoring and it would still be a great picture 😂
Thank you for making time 😊
Oh how I love my dad. I admire a whole lot from him. We could be here a whole day If I started mentioning all the qualities he possesses that I admire.
But what I absolutely love the most is that he’s a dad. He takes his time to talk to us and find out how we’re feeling and we have these little random chats about life that are so fulfilling. I love that he loves us and he’s always so proud to say it. He’s a blessing.
I hope everyone is forfortunate enough to have a dad in their lifetime.
Heey Angie 😃
That sounds like so much love!
Thank you for making time 😊
Your father seems a rare person in these times we live in. It’s very refreshing to know such people are still there.
I spent 3 minutes of the day being told by my 19 year-old cat that I’m no father, only her foster father…and a lousy one at that.
As for my own father, he and I are similar in that neither of us remembers these various ‘Days’; every single day is one of celebrating and caring.
Hey 😃
I am laughing so hard about your cat 😂😂
That’s the spirit! Celebrate the man every single day!
Thank you for making time 😊
This is a beautiful piece.
I realized the comment section is closed.
I love your style of writing!
Thank you for making time 😊
Just my personal belief that we should all have a cat to keep us grounded and to remind us of our utter insignificance 😌
It’s a pleasure reading the posts here 🙏🏽
https://peoplelifepoliticsandbullshit.com/2020/11/08/happy-fathers-day/
This was my relationship with my father
He taught me that less words can mean more.
That blood doesn’t make a father, a man does.
And that if a man is willing to step up to the plate, don’t criticise the shoes he’s in… showing up is the hardest part.
Hey Ell!
Ah, such lifelong lessons in your comment 🙌🏿
Thank you for making time 😊
Few are perfect. However, my father tended to extremes. His work in education and civil rights is still remembered by some and highly respected and cited years after his death. On the personal side, he was more absent than present, even when physically there. That created lots of problems, mostly for my two half-brothers.
Truly, parenting is far more complex than driving a car, but we have manuals and tests for the latter, and nothing for the former. Trial-and-error isn’t a good learning approach.
Beautiful post, Billy! Your father sounds like a great person. 🕊
Hey Snap 😃
Thank you 😊
He really is☺️
😎
In New Zealand, father’s day is in September, so I can use these thoughts as inspiration to pass in to my dad what I’m grateful for.
My dad sounds a lot like yours. Patient, talks things through, things everyone is worthy of time. I’m grateful that these traits have been some I seem to have taken on a bit.
I hope you are doing well my friend, and that there is sunshine where you are.
Hey Hamish!
Ah, I have learned something new about Father’s day in New Zealand.
I am well! There’s lots of sun in Nairobi. I hope you are well too, my friend!