Today is Father’s Day and I miss you so much. I remember you and miss you every day but this year is special. This year I have reached another stage of my life, I have achieved a great milestone, I have graduated to a higher status… I have become a grandmother! Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Your little girl is now a grandmother. A GRANDMOTHER! It’s an awesome feeling Daddy and I still haven’t quite got used to the word. I am still so overwhelmed by the birth of my grandchild, a beautiful, blue-eyed baby boy with a sweet angelic face and the sweetest disposition ever, a blessing from above. He is the light of our lives and the darling of our families and his birth has brought great joy to all of us. I can unashamedly proclaim, that in the past few days, I have fallen in love a million times over!
And Daddy, you know what, YOU have become a GREAT GRANDFATHER! That’s even more awesome, isn’t it? Oh, how I wish I could share this moment with you. How I wish you were here to see the little one, to hold him in your arms, to bless him. How I wish he could have grown up seeing you, knowing you, learning from you. Now I can only hope that all your wisdom, your humility, your excellence and all the values you uphold have trickled down to him.
Daddy, my daughter - your granddaughter, has become a MOTHER. How wonderful it is. Our lives have been infinitely blessed. How time flies. I remembered you so much all through her pregnancy … all your words came back to me as I guided her too on what foods she should eat and what care she should take during these crucial months and other things relevant to her state of approaching motherhood. I remembered you so much when I took her to the hospital just a few days ago. I remembered how you had awoken in the middle of the night to take me to the hospital when my time had come. How you had helped me out of the car and onto a stretcher at the entrance of the hospital, how you had waited anxiously through the night, pacing the hospital corridors while my mom was with me. I too went through that same agonizing wait as my daughter labored hard for several hours. I remember how thrilled you were when you received the news of the birth of a girl child. When I hugged my daughter and congratulated her on the birth of her baby, tears of joy streamed down my face. I remembered how you had awkwardly tried not to let anyone know how overcome with emotion you were that morning. I now realize the feeling of absolute wonder that threatens to burst one’s heart when one sees the child of their child. And yes, Daddy, you were the one who had read the azaan in her ears that morning.
Now, as I watch my daughter handle her baby, I give out the same instructions, the same advice that you had given me. You and mom had treated me like crystal when I brought my baby home from the hospital, pampered not just my baby, but me too and ensured that I had a very comfortable confinement period. Daddy, I am trying to do the same for my daughter too, trying to give her the comfort and care she needs to heal well and bounce back to her earlier self. You were so patient with my little one, watching over her while I slept, rocking her to sleep if I was too tired to do so. You baby-sat her once for several hours while I had gone out for some work and you didn’t even blink an eye when there was a diaper mishap and you had to clean up the mess that followed.....You were such a loving and caring grandparent and I would be thrilled if I could be half as good as you were. You have left behind such a wonderful example for us to follow - in your thoughts, in your words, and in your deeds in every sphere. I know your adorable great-grandson will bask in the affection you send from above, he will bloom in your love. And I will keep seeking your guidance from time to time for I know you are always there for me.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
Love you loads and miss you always.
Your loving daughter