DAD STORIES: A tale of my two fathers

When my dad passed away in 2001, my uncle stepped in and became my second father. He took up the responsibility of raising me and my four siblings yet he had 11 of his own and was jobless.

I can’t begin to describe how heavy a burden it was for him but he took it up with the enthusiasm and grace that very few can.

Growing up as the third born child with a father who worked as a hotelier six days a week with no guaranteed rest day, life was not a bed of roses yet we never lacked for anything.

I saw how my father struggled to provide basic needs for his family. He would spend any free time he had with us.

Dad always taught us the spirit of truthfulness, humility and hard work until his last day on earth. His dedication to ensure that all his children were baptised in accordance to the Catholic Church clearly showed his love for God.

After his death, life was not easy. Every passing day had its issues. Having relocated from Eldoret back to our rural home and adapting to the new life had its fine share of challenges but I thank God that he always showed us the way.

REJECTION FROM FAMILY

A few months after his death, mum followed him. We had hit the rock bottom. With no parent remaining, we faced the worst rejection from almost all the extended family members. No one was really ready to step up and take care us.

But my dad’s elder brother emerged like a hero in our lives and saved us from a life of destitution.

With the help of our new mother, he has taken care of us in every way possible. He took us to the best schools to ensure that we attained education for a better future and life.

My uncle’s  greatest values that he has instilled into us is the importance of knowing God and his word and the value of education.

To him, giving all his children a good education is far better than accumulating wealth in the form of property and such. It is due to this that all his biological children and the five of us have attained the best we could.

Through the years, all his works and service to all people have shown us that the most selfish act that one can do is to help other people as Denzel Washington says. The amount of sacrifice he has put to make sure that we get the best in life is just amazing.

He’s been also helpful to many other people in the community who needed some help. This has made him a hero in the community and to all who know him or hear his name.

LIFE IS UNFAIR

Life is quite unfair to people. Dad, as I call him, was diagnosed with cancer early this year. As I’m writing this, he is having a mid-morning nap because of the heavy chemotherapy session he had yesterday in a hospital here in India.

It has not been an easy task taking him through every process in his treatment. It has been a difficult period seeing him suffer in the hands of cancer.

Every day is a different day here. Going through each day here is proving to be a difficult one but God is seeing us through with the help of family members and friends. It is through such that dad is hoping and praying for a recovery so as to come back home.

Despite the threat of cancer, dad’s will for a better life, faith and strength in God has remained unshaken all through this period. He is truly an inspiration.

Some weeks back in the ICU he amazed the doctors by the positivity and prayerfulness. This so much motivated one of the doctors to a level that he asked me to try and emulate my dad’s faith.

These are some of the greatest values that dad has taught me and will pass to my children in future when God blesses me with them. As a family we will always celebrate and give him the best in his even as he goes through his treatment. When all this is done, all praise and honour will be to God.

As Father’s Day fast approaches, these are the two men that I celebrate in a special way. My late dad in heaven who is in constant intersession for us and my father here, going through his treatment for cancer. Praying for a quick recovery for dad.

Help us celebrate our dad by your prayers and support to help dad to undergo this process.

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What would you like your dad to know this Father’s Day? Can you say it in 800 words? Email: [email protected]