Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every day, I'll wake you with a smile and a hug so that I might show you each day must be met by bold gestures for the ones we love.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every morning, I'll remind you to feed all the animals so that I might show you the value of responsibility for taking care of yourself and others.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every time I take you to school, I'll kiss you on the lips so that I might show you that the world deserves to know how much I love you because such gestures need not be hidden behind a mask of shame.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every time I pick you up from school, I'll be outside waiting for you, on time, every time, so that you might know that work never comes first and that you can always depend on me.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every day, when I ask you about your day, I'll listen deeply, hanging on your every word so that you might know how listening with purpose should look and feel.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every night, as you struggle through your homework, I'll be by your side, encouraging you to keep trying, so that you might know that you have support without fail.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every night before bed, when you ask me to read that same old story using that same old silly voice, I'll do it, so that you might see that it's important to remember not to take yourself too seriously, even when you get old like me.
Though I need no reason, I'll give you one anyway.
Every night, as you sleep, I will tiptoe into your room silently, avoiding the numerous tripping pitfalls and toe-endangering stubberies, so that I may give you one more goodnight kiss, and as I do:
I'll think of all the parents picking out tiny gravestones,
I'll think of all the moms and dads waiting for a diagnosis,
I'll think of all the orphans and foster kids longing to belong,
I'll think of all the families without roofs and beds and food,
I'll think of all the children nursing undeserved bruises, both physical and emotional,
I'll think of all the people blindly reenacting their parents' mistakes and I'll think of their children, whose futures seem doomed to follow the same path.
And at that moment, as my lips touch your cheek,
I'll have all the reason I'll ever need.
Read more from Josh Misner, Ph.D. on the Facebook page, Mindful Dad