My Dad, Like the Sun

Following yesterday's post, I wanted to share the piece that I read at my father's memorial service. Though words cannot truly express what Dad meant to me, I can certainly try:

My wife, the writer, was giving me advice about coming up with what to say, and she told me to think of a metaphor or a symbol for my dad. She asked me to think of one specific time that represented all that Dad means to me. I thought of so many examples: Christmases, birthdays, family vacations, working on computers together… there wasn’t just one time, and that’s because Dad wasn’t just there for me some days. He was there for me all days.

He drove out of his way to watch me play baseball (no matter how badly I played!). He took me Monday and Thursday afternoons after school on his watch runs so I could buy a newspaper from Culp’s News Agency. He let me play video games into the night on weekends, and in the mornings brought me McDonalds for lunch.

So instead of thinking of just one time, I thought about a symbol that embodies Dad.

The sun.

See, my dad is like the sun in that he was always there, a bright, life-giving light responsible for warmth and growth, a light that sustains others. He nurtured me into who I am today.

And even though he is no longer with us, his presence still shines. In the darkness of night, the sun still shines: its light reflects off the moon and makes the darkness that much more beautiful. And so it is with Dad. His influence will stay with me my entire life—as his influence will stay forever with all those he has touched.

I chose to wear green today because it’s Dad’s favorite color. And it’s appropriate, too. Green is the color of growth, of life. All that Dad did in his life lives on through us, who cherish his memory. Like the sun, his influence still warms us and gives us comfort—even in the darkness.