All my life I’ve never known my father to raise his voice or his hand although he has been sorely tested with some of our childhood exploits. Despite this he quietly strives each and every day to make his family’s world a better place. He manages this with a heart the size of his home county Yorkshire and a twinkle in his eye.
Throughout our lives he has brought home many a waif and stray, both the two and four-legged variety. He’s carried small whimpering bundles wrapped in old towels into the house, most with a sad story attached. Assuring my mother that children needed to learn from a young age to respect and enjoy animals and this was how characters were built. The latest addition has been a young border collie that he came across on one of his walks. It was being berated by a farmer for not being a better sheepdog and lacking a more aggressive nature. My dad intervened before the animal could receive any more beatings and simply said to the farmer “that’s enough, I’ll take him” and the farmer wisely sensing my father’s determination in this matter, relinquished him almost immediately. He walked him into the kitchen on the end of one of his granddaughter’s old skipping ropes and they have been inseparable ever since. So we have yet another addition to our rescue menagerie; a sheepdog who’s scared of his own shadow.
Through my Dad’s job as branch manager of an electrical retail outlet, he has come into contact with a number of people from all sorts of backgrounds. Over the years my Dad has brought home the odd serviceman’s wife to join us for a family meal. Many having moved to the area, leaving their families behind and when their husbands have shipped out; their loneliness in a new town has become almost unbearable.
When I was much younger, I remember my Dad turning the volume up on one of the televisions just as he was closing the shop. He would gesture to an old lady who was stood outside the shop window in the darkening evening watching some TV Soap or other. I never knew her circumstances but every evening about the same time, she would stand there waiting for my Dad to adjust the volume. When we later updated our television for a newer model, I knew instinctively where he would be taking the old one although he never said.
As a child these small random acts of kindness tend to go unnoticed, it is not until we are older and are facing our own trials in the world that we fully appreciate and understand. I think I may have said before that my Dad is a man of simple pleasures and few words; he’s never travelled the world and never wanted to. However, in his own quiet way, he is more insightful than many that have. I know that wherever I travel, my compass will always find my way home because my father’s innate goodness will be the shining beacon lighting my way through turbulent times.
My Dad & his youngest grandaughter Titch
a lovely entry!
Thank you very much – not sure exactly what my Dad will say though!
He’s got to love it! You paint him as such a marvelously kind man! =D
It’s the calm and quiet ones that you know you can always rely on. So many childhood lessons learned without realising. Lovely
I always think about you guys when I am writing about animals because I know your strong feelings regarding animal welfare. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if all children learnt these lessons
What a wonderful photo. They say that over time, a person gets the face they deserve, and in your day’s case it is clearly true. His face just oozes kindness. Is that you with him? Thanks for sharing.
Whoops, my iPad changed “dad” to “days”. I hate that when it happens…and it happens all too often!
This is my lovely niece with her grandad and since you mention it, he probably does have a kind face although he wouldn’t like me to say!
If all dads were like your’s, I’m sure the world would be a much better place
I think so too Maggie
Thanks for sharing, I loved it.
You are most welcome and it’s always nice to know that there’s someone out there reading
Your Dad sounds like a wonderful man! And your love for him shines through in this loving tribute
Thanks Madhu, he’s very loveable
do you realise I never asked where in yorkshire you were you will have to let me know and we might manage that coffee during the winter before you hea back to sunnier climes
We live in Devon now but I’m sure I will get to share a coffee with you WHEN you are on your book tour (notice how I said when and not if) Paula – how are you doing?
Loved your sunny tribute to your pa. Wow, he’s a lucky man to have a daughter so appreciate his gifts. I read this and I feel one thing, LOVE.
– Kaye
http://www.youtube.com/user/kittrellkaye
Bless you Kaye! My Dad isn’t one for great shows of affection and will probably never read this;but he’s content and happy with his life and that counts for something.
beautiful words, thanks for sharing. Has your dad actually read all this? tell him!
None of my family read my blog and my Dad would say no-one would find him interesting!
What a wonderful tribute!
Thank you Laurie
A wonderful tribute to a dad … wonderful written … love that part about that you compass will always bring you home to him. Never met my dad … can’t say I have ever missed him neither.
I know that I’m very lucky but sometimes I have to remind myself
You said something very true … we have to remind ourself from time to time how lucky we really are.
Everyday we make a decisions whether or not to make a difference. It seems that everyday your father chose wisely. Random acts of kindness are not all that random. They are made with purposeful determination and compassion. People like your father seem to understand the need more clearly and respond with life affirming acceptance. As Charles Dickens said in “A Christmas Carole – mankind is your business. Excellent post…
I love your quotes! My Dad doesn’t analyse things at all – he just does because he believes its the right thing to do – I hope I inherit some of that
What a grand chap your Dad is!
Aye he’s a good’en!
What a lovely tribute to your dear dad. He sounds like an amazingly kind and patient man.
He’s very patient! He never argues which frustrates my mum no end!
Bless his cotton socks.
Your dad sounds like a wise and kind man and extra good on him for caring so much about ‘strays’ of all types.
He’s a big animal lover Phil, which is why he loves your pictures so much!
Very poignant essay. I may be your long lost brother, because this is match for how may father was. Well written and heartfelt.
Thank you “bro” – we’re both very lucky aren’t we?
Beautiful tribute. Asa father of a thirteen-year-old I can only hope my daughter someday writes a similar glowing tribute to my parenting skills.
That’s one of the kindest things anyone has said to me and I suspect your daughter already talks about you like that!
Wouldn’t it be great if you could clone your dad so every child could have access to his wisdom and kindness.
I think he may be a one off! He’d probably say he was a cadbury’s mishape!
Ever so sweet, Tinky… you are both lucky to have each other! xxoo
Gunta, I hope I have inherited a little of his kindness
I very much suspect that you have…
What a beautiful post! It must have been amazing to grow up with an example like that.
I think as a child you don’t appreciate it and its only when you’re older that you realise
What a lovely man. Those random acts of kindness are what makes the world a better place.
You are so right
Beautiful post! Thank you so much for sharing the wonderful story about your dad.
You are most welcome and thank you for reading
Beautiful.
Richard, thank you!
This is a lovely post and a beautiful thing for you to share to honour him, as well as being a nice anecdote. Your Dad has respect for animals and people because he has an plain good old fashioned respect for himself, and from all that I’ve read of you in your posts you inherited that same self respect, so while he is a beacon for you, his light shines through and beyond you, and you are a beacon in kind for others
I am really touched and loved what you said!
What a beautiful, touching tribute to your father. I don’t need to tell you this of course, but you are a fortunate woman to have that example of what a good man is.
Thank you and you’re right its important that I acknowledge it every now and then!
What a lovely tribute to your father, crazytraintotinkytown. It brought a tear or two to my eyes. Our fathers certainly play a huge part in shaping our lives. Enjoy him!
Our Dads are an integral part of our lives that’s for sure. If he ever read this, he’d wonder what all the fuss was about.
I’m guessing the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree! Really lovely entry.
That’s a lovely thing to say and very kind – thank you
Super special post, Crazy. Thank you.
I can’t take the credit; it’s all about the old fella
Lovely. I think your Dad will love this, not so much because of what you said, but simply because YOU wrote it.
Maybe although he doesn’t read my blog and will wonder why people would find it interesting.
Your dad sounds so lovely! I hope the collie is settling in ok, poor wee thing
Actually I think that they both have similar dispositions; I read somewhere that you eventually start to look the same as your pet and they are both grey!
How fortunate you are to have such a Dad!
I know I am but sometimes you need to remind yourself!
What a lovely post, your Dad sounds like a salt of thee earth Yorkshire chap. There’s something special about Yorkshire men. Enjoy and love him you have a very special connection. He sounds so much like my Father. I only knew my father for 10 years before he died but I remember him as a gentle, patient man always ready to take me on his knee and read me stories and draw pictures and go for walks together. So I know you will cherish every moment you spend with your Dad
Simple pleasure he tells me all the time and I will cherish the moments you can be sure
Have a tear or two blurring my vision just now – the portrait of your Dad makes me hopeful for a happier world, and makes me miss my quiet insightful old Dad beyond words.
We are very lucky daughters, aren’t we?
Ooooh yeah
What a beautiful post. I too have realized how much influence the quiet strength of my father had on my upbringing. Sadly he is no longer here, but I see him all the time in my own actions and words. Thanks for posting this.
I think he’d like that and I also think he knows as well – thank you for your kind words
Take a printout and give it to your dad. You’ll make his day
He’d want to know what all the fuss was about Joe!
good man!
You certainly made mine
I wish I’d have acknowledged my dad similarly in his lifetime.
I think your Dad knows, Joe!
I’d like to think so
What a great tribute to your father, Dallas. He sounds like an amazing and caring man.
He’s a good old boy when he’s not putting up shelves!