I am a father. I take that rather seriously. News media refer to the persons simply responsible for impregnating women as “fathers.” I don’t.
The word father does not allow for any hyphenations or qualifiers to me. You either are, or you aren’t a father. Pass/fail. If I am proud of anything in this life, it’s that I’m told by people I respect that I pass as a father. It’s enough praise, but it’s not enough accomplishment to suit me. I keep trying.
I’ll break my own rule now, and use an adjective to describe a father. The man in the video, little Ivor’s father, Jorge Cardile, is a good father.
He is not a good father because he succeeded in his effort. If it had failed miserably, and had no effect whatsoever, it wouldn’t have affected my opinion of him one whit — quite the opposite — for a prayer is not the pull of a lever expecting a gumball.
6 Responses
That was just beautiful. Thanks, Sipp.
I'm supposed to work today, and now there's something in my eyes.
The absolute joy to see that little boy walk — and to know that a father's love made it happen. Like Pastor Jeff, I'm brought to tears.
Lovely. (You are a good father.)
Some day, when he is old and graying, the little boy will view those scenes, and remember, and marvel…
And if tears do not come to his eyes, he cannot be human.
Lovely…
My emotional reaction is the same as the rest of you.
It also occurs to me that there's a few patents in this that could a) be used to develop some commercial appliances that would help a bunch of kids out there and b) make Jorge a lot better financially off than he is now.