Keeping My Dad’s Spirit Alive

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This Christmas was a great one and a sad one at the same time.

My Son

My 4-year-old son, Sam, made it bright and magical with his excitement and the light in his eyes as we watched  Christmas movies, put up the tree and went to look at all the lights on the houses in our neighborhood.

This is the first year he has really understood all the little traditions and fun rituals that go with the holiday at our house. It was amazing. I have not been so excited about Christmas since I was small myself.

My Dad

But even with all the joy, there was a certain ache in my heart. It was another Christmas without my dad.

I remember telling him I was pregnant as a special gift the Christmas before my son was born. I had created a special announcement card and pasted a great picture of the 3D ultrasound. “Coming Soon – Samuel Benjamin – due March 22, 2012.” I gave it to him as the final present at my family’s celebration.

When he read it, he started to cry which made all of us cry. He had been sick for a long time and we all felt so lucky when he was able to meet my son. I know he tried so hard to be sure to be around for the birth. He had to be wheeled into my hospital room to hold Sam. We all hoped that he would be around long enough to see as many of Sam’s firsts as possible. Sadly, though, he died of cancer in 2013. My son was 14 months old.

As anyone who has watched someone they love die of a terminal illness, their death still manages to come as a harsh and painful surprise. You can only prepare yourself for their death so much.

Honoring My Dad’s Spirit

As I look back at that time, I feel sad that there were so many milestones that my father didn’t get to see and so many to come that he will miss. As I tried to handle my own grief, I realized that it was my job to share my dad with Sam as much as I possibly could. To give my son a sense of the father I knew. It was a way to honor my father’s spirit and share a wonderful person with Sam.

I want my son to know that his Papa loved him, but more to know him as much as he can. So I share stories, pictures, favorite movies, favorite songs and special memories. This is the only way I have to share my father with my son. And, no, it isn’t enough. But it is the best I can do. And somehow, that helps the ache that I have and keeps my dad alive for me, too.

 
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Becky
Becky is a Colorado native who lives on the east side of the Springs with her 4 year old son Sam, her husband Matt, and 3 dogs and 1 cat. She has been married for 15 years. She has worked in healthcare management for her entire working life and transitioned to working for herself from her home office 4 years ago. She is grateful for the flexibility that self-employment offers but still wishes for more hours in a day to get everything done. Becky has trouble saying no and loves to be involved with a cause or a purpose. If you need someone for a committee or to get things done, she is your girl. She still makes the time to be there for friends and family. When she is not caught up in the busy-ness of her life, she loves to cook, bake, read, craft, watch movies and, of course, write. She is obsessed with cooking shows and loves to try new recipes. Her husband is her willing guinea pig for her creations.

1 COMMENT

  1. I love this – we lost my dad on Thanksgiving 2016 so the holidays are so bittersweet for us. It was a blessing that he got to know my boys but there’s still so much he will miss and they won’t remember about him – that’s where I come in! As much as it hurts this time of year, I want to make sure we keep my dad’s memory alive!

    P.S. My oldest is Benjamin Samuel 😊

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