Her hair was up in a ponytail Her favorite dress tied with a
bow
Today was Daddy's Day at school And she couldn't wait to
go.
But her mommy tried to tell her, That she probably should stay
home.
Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school
alone.
But she was not afraid; She knew just what to say. What
to tell her classmates
Of why he wasn't there today. But still her mother
worried,
For her to face this day alone. And that was why once
again,
She tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went
to school,
Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees, A dad who
never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, For everyone to
meet
Children squirming impatently, Anxious in their seats. One by
one the teacher called, Each student from the class. To
introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed.
At last the teacher called her name, Every child turned to
stare.
Each of them was searching, For a man who wasn't there.
"Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out. "She probably doesn't have one"
Another student dared to shout. 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 offened her, As she smiled up at her mom.
And looked back at her teacher, Who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back, Slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, Came words incredibly
unique.
"My daddy couldn't be here, Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, Since this is such a special
day.
And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All about
my daddy,
And how much he loves me so. He loved to tell me stories He
taught me to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses, And
taught me to fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him, I'm not standing here alone.
Cause my daddy's always with me Even though we are apart. I
know because he told me, He'll forever be in my heart." With
that, her little hand reached up,
and lay across her chest. Feeling her own heartbeat, Beneath
her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, Her mother stood in
tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, Who was wise beyond her
years.
For she stood up for the love Of a man not in her life. Doing
what was best for her,
Doing what was right. And 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.
And if he could he'd be here, But heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman And died just this past year.
When airplanes hit the towers And taught Americans to fear.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, It's like he never went
away."
And then she closes her eyes, And saw him there that day.
And to her mother's amazement, She witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close
their eyes.
Who knows what they say before them, Who knows what they felt
inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, They saw him at her side. "I know
you're with me Daddy." To the silence she called out. And what
happened next made believers,
Of those once filled with doubt. Not one in that room could
explain it,
For each of their eyes had been closed. But there on the desk
beside her,
Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose. And a child was
blessed,
if only for a moment, By the love of her shining bright
star.
And given the gift of believing,
10 faves · Dec 12, 2011 2:04pm