Happy Father's Day

I am the father

My child was born with a heart defect

Its "my job" to be strong 

And tell my wife things will be fine

And pray that I'm not wrong.

And still the bills need to get paid

And things need to be done

And it's so hard just sitting here

"I want to hold my child"!

I lean down as I watch her breathe

"Keep fighting", is my plea

"I thought I'd teach you to be brave

"But Hope, you have taught me".

I hear the beeping of all those machines

They're helping my child to live
I wish that I could take her place

Man, what I would not give!

To have the faith and strength I need

to hold back all my tears

to say I know she'll be okay

despite all of my fears.

I'd only fall down in defeat

when no one is around

I'd be the rock she surely needs

I'd stand on solid ground.

A daddy says," come to my arms

and I'll chase those monster's away"

This daddy's heart cries out to God

and says, "please let her stay".

A daddy needs to cry sometimes

and God must see right through

that " tough daddy exterior"

for He's a daddy too.

~Stephanie Husted