Father's Day

The following stories were submitted by readers to the Houston Chronicle. (edited for length).

"Daddy saved me!"

A few years ago, my 3-year old daughter taught me how easily I could lose the precious title of father. Vacationing in northern Michigan, Casey and I headed to the boathouse with supplies for a picnic. As I entered the boathouse, right behind my daughter, I saw her fall into the dark water between the boat and the dock. Immediately I dropped the supplies and fell to the dock, reaching into the murk to pull her out. To my horror, she was not there. I rolled into the water, pushing the boat away as I fell. I searched the green water for Casey for what seemed minutes until I finally spotted her under the hull, suspended motionless in the water like a large doll, her eyes staring widely at me.

Grabbing her, I pushed her to the surface, when, to my relief, she let loose a scream of fear and anger. Gently, I then lifted her onto the dock. Unfortunately, the weight of my wet clothes prevented me from climbing onto the dock myself. I instructed my still-crying child to go get Mommy. She took off for the house crying but repeatedly yelling almost triumphantly, "Daddy saved me!"

My deep appreciation for the privilege of being a father was set in place for the rest of my life.
- Dr. Ken Grier, Spring, Texas


My Hero

From taking the training wheels off my bike, to letting me off punishment a couple days early, to putting me through college, my Dad is truly a hero.

He has never once "not had time" for my brother and I. For 21 years he has made sure we were provided for, and not just financially. He insisted that my brother and I attend college, only it was never a fight because all through our lives he has shown us what it takes to succeed so my brother and I always knew that we'd go to college.

I catch myself thinking sometimes that his friends must think my Dad is pretty great to be putting both his kids through college and then I think, many parents never get the chance. My dad has always said that he wants my brother and me to succeed even more than he did. For 21 years he has not once let my brother or I down, so we won't let him down either. Our father is truly a hero.
- Carrie and Richie Vincent


I received a phone call the other day from a wonderful person who reminded me that not everyone has memories of wonderful fathers. My friend had a good point, that on occassions such as Mother's Day and Father's Day, those who lived with ungodly/abusive/negligent/absent parents may relive their pain all over again, especially when at their place of refuge, their church family, they are inundated with words and symbols of fathers and mothers and seemingly everyone around had only good to say.

What do you think...How should we help those who hurt on Father's/Mother's Day?


Don Morrison

more stories can be found at this link http://www.chron.com/content/interactive/special/holidays/97/dad/stories/