Responding To Netizen's Comments

Netizen's Comment:

I have read Celebrating Father's Day With My Dad, and I was almost choking I could feel a big lump in my throat.  Was it because I can relate to it or was it because your choice of words was almost palpable? Do you also have that feeling of longing on Mother's Day or do you have other people you are grateful for?

Response: 

Aside from my father, there are still 2 Fathers that I want to say Thank You to this Father's Day.

1.  One of them is God The Father - the greatest Father of them all.  Father's Day should not be complete without looking back at what He has done for us. He has created the sun, the moon, the stars, and the planet Earth where we live in. He sent His son Jesus to redeem us from our sins and He has provided us with more than we could ever have imagined. He has surrounded us with people who always look out for us. He has given us family and friends who bless us every day with love and affection. God the Father should be part and parcel every year of celebrating Father's Day!

2. The second Father is my parish priest - my Father confessor, my Father rector, my second Father.  He was everything like my father - advisor, friend, attorney, mentor, coach, teacher, and counselor all rolled into one. He also was the one who recruited me to be his sacristan.

In one of the Father's Day celebrations when I was younger Father priest has given me something to think about ... "you know what you will do the next time Father's Day is approaching?  Just look at the crucifix and you will see two letters ... when you think about all the Father you are grateful.  If you concentrate ... you will figure out those letters ."

"Two letters ... what are those letters?" I asked. "That is your homework and when you have the answer ... come back to me."

I went home that day puzzled ... but I want to figure out the answer.  So I did what I have to do and as soon as I fixed my gaze on the crucifix at home ... the cross looked like the letter T ... so it seems. "Was that it ... and what's the second letter?" I asked.

Then I saw Jesus' body with his hands hanging on the cross ... resembling that of the letter Y.  "That's it!" I was so happy the answers just fall fast in my lap.

I went straight to the convent to tell Father-priest that I solved the mind-boggler. TY was all I said.

"You are a smart kid ... and you figure it out. TY is Thank You. From this day forward I want you to be grateful to your Mom and Dad. Say TY to everything they have done for you. Be appreciative of the little things they did for you and don't have the mindset that these are their obligations ... and that they need to SERVE you.  Think that they are doing this because they love you.  Now go back to your house ... hug your Dad and say Thank You."

"It's the start.  Now go out and spread the word."