TO MY DAD

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My Dad was a selfless provider who never asked much of me other than to be a good man. Growing up, I never fully appreciated the life that was afforded to me by my parents. In reality, it wasn't until after I allowed alcohol to reek havoc on my life that I realized how much he actually sacrificed for his four sons, especially his youngest. During my darkest hour, I arrived at Rob's Ranch to find that he had already written a check for me to be admitted. I didn't have to ask him, he didn't have to be convinced that this was a necessary investment in his son's well being. He paid my way to getting the help I needed and visited me just about every weekend during the 90 days I was there. Later, when it was time for me to go back out into the real world, he paid for my first month's rent to sober living and helped me finance a car; sober living that would provide an accountable place for me as a newly sober man and a vehicle that would permit me to get to my new job, AA meetings, and everything else that was needed to build my life again.

He never asked for me to pay him back, all he did was tell me he was proud of the man I was becoming and to repay him by the way I lived my life. I'll never know if he fully felt the weight of my gratitude, but I'm not sure he needed to. He was a father and a provider and his actions weren't motivated by the thanks or recognition he'd receive. He did what was best for his sons and stepped to the side so they could shine on their own.

Dad, today I pray you feel the full weight of my gratitude and love. 

You will forever be missed and forever be a driving force behind the man I am today.