by Keeshler Pittman

Created on: August 14, 2009

I never would have imagined that a month before my father's birthday, he would pass away. Not only that, but the week of Father's Day. I got a telephone call. I was having lunch at work. When I heard the news, it felt like someone had ripped out my soul. My father was 54 years old. He died of a massive heart attack. I cried. I cried some more. Now, a few months later, I still cry. I miss him very much. I was a daddy's girl. Nothing was ever good enough for me. At least in my daddy's eyes.

I am 31 years old. I understand now the importance of every moment. I understand now that the most important part of life is love. My father was not a rich man. He did not even graduate high school, but he was a great man. He was a man of faith. His favorite passage of scripture, John chapter 14 has helped me alot. I have to believe that one day, I will see him in Heaven. If I do not believe that, I have no need for faith. Faith is the only thing that has sustained me.

My father spent alot of time with me. That is why it hurts so bad. He taught me to ride a bike. He taught me how to sing. He taught me to believe in myself. He taught me to treat other people with respect. He taught me to be dilligent. He taught me the importance of punctuality. He worked in construction. Some mornings, he would leave for work before sunset. He worked very hard. I always wanted to get rich, so he would not have to work anymore. I will be rich one day, but I really don't care about that. I can't buy him all the stuff I wanted to buy him. Then again, he really didn't care about stuff. He cared about people. I care about people.

It hurts, but I will see him again one day. I have to continue to live for my child. I have to teach her what really matters in life. Material things are nice, but people to share them with is better. We must work to obtain things, but we must also work to maintain relationships. Life is meaningless without love. Now I work harder at maintaining my relationships. The people we love are more important than material things.

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