>> >>
>> >> Her hair was up in a pony tail,
>> >> 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 impatiently,
>> >> Anxious in their seats
>> >>
>> >> One by one the teacher called
>> >> a 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,
>> >> 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 offend 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 here 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 is a Marine
>> >> And died just this past year
>> >> When a roadside bomb hit his convoy
>> >> And taught Americans to fear.
>> >> But sometimes when I close my eyes,
>> >> it's like he never went away."
>> >> And then she closed her eyes,
>> >> And saw him there that day.
>> >>
>> >> And to her mothers amazement,
>> >> She witnessed with surprise.
>> >> A room full of daddies and children,
>> >> All starting to close their eyes.
>> >>
>> >> Who knows what they saw 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 star.
>> >> And given the gift of believing,
>> >> That heaven is never too far.
>> >>
>> >> They say it takes a minute to find a special
>> >> Person, an hour to appreciate them,
>> >> a day to love them, but then an entire
>> >> Life to forget them.
>> >>
>> >> Send this to the people you'll never forget and
>> >> Remember to send it also to the person that sent
>> >> It to you It's a short message to let them know
>> >> that you'll never forget them.
>> >>
>> >>if you don't send it to anyone, it means you're
>> >>in a hurry and that you've forgotten your friends.
>> >>
>> >> Take the time..to live and love.
>> >> Until eternity. God bless
