The Voice of My Father

When I entered the world, I was hurt and upset, crying loudly. He said, "Rommel, this is dad, it's going to be ok." Incredibly, as he began to talk with me and hold me, I calmed down almost immediately. He had been talking to me each night for several months before I was born. In this time of distress, I recognized his voice and found it to be a soothing and comforting grace at an awful and painful moment in my young life.

As a father, he would have done anything — and he mean anything — to have prevented me from any injury or to have relieved me of that pain. It was gut-wrenching and crushing to him. All he could do was offer the comforting sound of a familiar voice and the tender touch of a father who loved his child. Over the course of my life, he keeps on repeating his role again and again through the challenging moments. Life isn’t for sissies! Growing up is very tough. Sometime I consider him as the source of my grief and frustration. But this isn't fair.

As I grew, however, he began to realize that some pain was necessary to help me grow. Some pain motivates us to become dissatisfied with where we are. Other pain is a result of our own mistakes and misjudgments and helps steer us back to the right path. Further pain is there simply because the world is unfair and people sometimes act in hateful and evil ways toward us. This latter hurt drives us to find a lasting and dependable source of comfort.

While he never wanted my heart to hurt, I’m sure proud of the man God has shaped out of my growing up experiences — even if some of them caused pain that he tried to prevent. His prayer is that as I faces challenges as a man, I can still hear the voice of him as a source of comfort ... but even more, he pray that my ears and my heart are tuned to the voice of his more permanent, more consistent, and even more loving Father.

Now, that my father is with the Father of all fathers his voice still linger and serve as music to my ear. It is not just my source of comfort but as guide towards the challenges of life. I miss you so much TAY.