Sometimes we just need to pause, reflect and take time to appreciate what we have and the gifts surround us every day. I, We have a lot to be grateful for.

I recently celebrated my 48^th birthday and my wife Laureen had a small gathering with family and close friends. Once you reach a certain age in life, presents, although still fun to give and fun to receive, are less important and tend to have little lasting effects. A Gift however, especially one from the heart of someone you love, will remain with you for eternity.

Last night I received such a gift.

My 23 y/o son Nicholas has a gift for lyrics and poetry and he wrote me this poem:

Such a man could never be
that teaches while he learns
believes in more than he can see
walks harder when it burns

how could I grow up, be strong
how could I be wise
even when it takes so long
he’ll take as many tries

fruit does not derive from seeds
those just form the tree
love and care for all its needs
and blossoms you will see

often fruits will take so long
if they ever even come
even lyrics to the song
won’t always match the tune you hum

to take the time to nourish me
to be the sun that shines
to have the wherewithal to be
the worker in the mines

a diamond you may never see
yet pick and dig you do
a son that makes you proud to be
it’s like as if you knew

wonder how I would have turned
if you’d never dug me out
you’d not believe what I have learned
but that’s what its about

such a man could never be
’cause that’d be way too rad
but one thing I have learned to see
there’s such a man..

I call him Dad

It is my observation that we can spend our lives acquiring things such as nice cars, nice clothes, nice houses and nice toys but in the end they are and will remain just things. They are fun to acquire and fun to have and for many, can make life very enjoyable but in the end, again, they are just things.

I believe our souls will live forever and with our soul will remain not the things we have acquired but the people whose souls we have touched and those who have touched our souls, the people we have forgiven and those who have forgiven us, those who we have helped or assisted in some way an those who have helped us and most importantly, those we have loved and those who have loved us. Yes, these ‘things’ will remain with our souls forever.

My soul was touched deeply by this gift last night and so it is my wish to share my gift with you.

I am one very grateful dad.

Thank you Nicholas.