File #1092: "Mosaic_Spring_2004_14.jpg"
Description
Without A Father's Love
Audra M. Lomas
A father is a man in which one needs and looks up to throughout life. The love of a father is a love one's heart will always need. The memory of my father is greatly imprinted in my mind, and even though he left me as a child, that one memory carried me throughout most my life. Although my mother loved me unconditionally, I always yearned for the love of my father. Being emotionally torn throughout most of my childhood, I held myself together with thought of his return. Although I never had the chance to know my father and his absence often broke my heart, he would instill many important values throughout my life that I would not realize until my adulthood.
Throughout my childhood I often turned to the memory of my father or the dreams of his return for comfort or friendship. I never knew how important having dreams are, and even though my father was not there to teach me the importance, his absence opened much of my creative mind. As a child, I was a angry person. I could not understand how a father could turn and walk away from his own child. I would often confront my mother, and I would ask her many questions. I wanted to know if my daddy was coming home or if he loved me. Although I needed answers to many questions, that all changed the day I heard my mother praying and crying for his return. I realized that my mother needed my father as much as I did, and that she did not have all the answers to all the questions I needed to know. The one person that could answer all these questions was no longer around. Therefore, I learned that many things throughout life go unanswered, and it was then I learned to have dreams.
Although hate has filled the heart of so many, love is the only gift that should be returned. Being born into a world full of racism is another obstacle I had to overcome throughout most of my childhood, and I still struggle with this today. As a child, when all the other kids were playing on the playground, I often found myself all alone. It was in this time I wandered back to that one memory, and it was there I found a friend. Even if one feels as though he or she is all alone in the world, the smallest memory can bring the heart comfort and be one's friend. Although my father's presence was not there, he taught me that love starts with one's self and is to be given equally to all, even those filled with hate.
Now it is my turn to be a mother. As a parent, I will never leave my children to wonder if I will be there tomorrow. I never let a day go without saying, "I love you." They will know that love starts with one's self, but the love began with me. They will never have to turn to an empty memory for a friendship because the memories will be filled with the existence of my love. The memories I instill in the lives of my children will be filled with the love of my presence, yet in case of my absence, my love will not only be an empty thought, it will be a memory filled with the touch my love has imprinted.
Audra M. Lomas
A father is a man in which one needs and looks up to throughout life. The love of a father is a love one's heart will always need. The memory of my father is greatly imprinted in my mind, and even though he left me as a child, that one memory carried me throughout most my life. Although my mother loved me unconditionally, I always yearned for the love of my father. Being emotionally torn throughout most of my childhood, I held myself together with thought of his return. Although I never had the chance to know my father and his absence often broke my heart, he would instill many important values throughout my life that I would not realize until my adulthood.
Throughout my childhood I often turned to the memory of my father or the dreams of his return for comfort or friendship. I never knew how important having dreams are, and even though my father was not there to teach me the importance, his absence opened much of my creative mind. As a child, I was a angry person. I could not understand how a father could turn and walk away from his own child. I would often confront my mother, and I would ask her many questions. I wanted to know if my daddy was coming home or if he loved me. Although I needed answers to many questions, that all changed the day I heard my mother praying and crying for his return. I realized that my mother needed my father as much as I did, and that she did not have all the answers to all the questions I needed to know. The one person that could answer all these questions was no longer around. Therefore, I learned that many things throughout life go unanswered, and it was then I learned to have dreams.
Although hate has filled the heart of so many, love is the only gift that should be returned. Being born into a world full of racism is another obstacle I had to overcome throughout most of my childhood, and I still struggle with this today. As a child, when all the other kids were playing on the playground, I often found myself all alone. It was in this time I wandered back to that one memory, and it was there I found a friend. Even if one feels as though he or she is all alone in the world, the smallest memory can bring the heart comfort and be one's friend. Although my father's presence was not there, he taught me that love starts with one's self and is to be given equally to all, even those filled with hate.
Now it is my turn to be a mother. As a parent, I will never leave my children to wonder if I will be there tomorrow. I never let a day go without saying, "I love you." They will know that love starts with one's self, but the love began with me. They will never have to turn to an empty memory for a friendship because the memories will be filled with the existence of my love. The memories I instill in the lives of my children will be filled with the love of my presence, yet in case of my absence, my love will not only be an empty thought, it will be a memory filled with the touch my love has imprinted.