Gedig: Pa is baie meer as net 'n gedig

'n Pa is 'n vriend

wat bly aan jou sy

'n lojale vertroueling

wat jou orals sal lei.

'n Opregte kameraad

as dit sleg gaan met jou

op wie se beskerming

jy kan vertrou.

'n Pa gee krag

hy vertroos en ondersteun

jy kan hom bewonder

en altyd op hom leun

Pa's al hierdie dinge-

wil daarom net sê

geen pa in die wêreld

word meer liefgehê. 

[Dankie, Anoniem, vir jou pa-gedig.]  

Gedig: Vadersdag

Aan al Pa se liefde,

dade en werke,

besef ek vandag ...

is daar werklik geen perke.

As ek die ou mensdom

op die keper beskou,

wil ek Pa bo almal

as my pa behou!

[Dankie, Anoniem, vir hierdie wense.] 

1 Korintiërs 13 vir Pa's

Al sou ek die mooiste huis in die buurt hê en met die duurste BMW ry, maar my vrou en kinders geniet nie die weelde van my teenwoordigheid nie, dan is ek so waardeloos soos 'n bankkrediet met 'n nulbalans.

Al het ek die gawe van woorde sodat ek 'n direksie met my argumente kan swaai, of skares na my preke kan laat stroom, en ek het nie die liefde om na my kinders te luister nie, doen ek meer kwaad as goed.

Al ken ek die geheimenisse van die Beurs en die Reserwebank, en al besit ek al die kennis van rugby- en krieketreëls, en al het ek al die geloof dat ons hierdie land met gebed kan verander, maar ek het nie die liefde om my kinders die gevare van baie geld te leer, langs die baan te staan as hulle speel of hulle te leer bid nie, dan het ek niks bereik nie.

Al gee ek 'n dubbele tiende vir die armes, en al beroem ek my dat ek in elke liefdadigheidsraad op my dorp dien en vakansies my gesondheid opoffer om in malariagebiede sendingwerk te doen, en ek is te moeg om saans vir my kinders boeke te lees of naweke in die veld te gaan stap, baat dit my alles absoluut niks.

'n Pa wat lief het, is geduldig met kinders wat sukkel met wiskunde,
'n Pa se liefde is vriendelik met 'n kind wat nie wil rugby speel nie,
hy is nie afgunstig op pa's met slimmer en mooier kinders nie,
hy is nie grootpraterig en verwaand oor sy kinders se prestasies nie,
'n Pa se liefde handel nie onwelvoeglik met die ma van sy kinders nie,
soek nie sy eie belang sodat sy huismense laaste kom nie,
is nie liggeraak en nukkerig as 'n kind bietjie ekstra aandag soek nie.
'n Pa wat sy kinders lief het, hou nie boek van hulle foute en peper hulle nie met verwyte nie.

'n Pa verbly hom nie oor 'n kind se foute met:
"Ek het jou gewaarsku maar jy wou nie luister nie"
Hy is verheug as hy sy kinders die waarheid hoor praat - selfs tot hulle eie nadeel.

Daarom wil ek my kinders se skandes met liefde bedek,
in hulle glo,
die beste vir hulle hoop,
en hulle kleredrag, klaery en kritiek verdra.

'n Opregte drukkie en 'n intieme gesprek van 'n ouer bly lank in 'n kinderhart. Maar die preek of toespraak wat ek liewer in die tyd wou skryf sal oormôre weer vergeet wees.
Vandag se noterings op die aandelemark is volgende week niks werd nie.
In die lig van die Volmaakte wat kom, word al my kennis en besittings gerelativeer.

Toe ek 'n jong man was, was ek gesteld op my voorkoms, my motor en my geleerdheid,
maar noudat ek 'n pa geword het, wil ek graag my kinders met liefde, balans en geloof grootmaak.

Nou kyk ek nog vas teen rebelse tienergesigte,
maar eendag as hulle groot is,
sal hulle verstaan wat ons hulle wou leer,
en wat God ons almal leer.

En nou:
Geduld, aanmoediging en liefde bly,

Maar die waardevolste hiervan is onvoorwaardelike liefde!

[Outeur: Willem Botha en webruimte: www.heuning.co.za]

But you didn't

I looked at you and smiled the other day
I thought you saw me but you didn't
I said "I love you" and waited for what you would say
I thought you'd hear me but you didn't
I asked you to come outside and play catch with me
I thought you would follow me but you didn't
I drew a picture just for you to see
I thought you would save it but you didn't
I made a fort for us in the woods
I thought you'd camp with me but you didn't
I found some worms n such for fishing if we could
I thought you'd want to go but you didn't
I needed you just to talk to, my thoughts to share
I thought you'd want to but you didn't
I told you about the game hoping you'd be there
I thought you'd surely come but you didn't
I asked you to share my youth with me
I thought you'd want to but you couldn't
My country called me to war, you asked me to come home safely
But I didn't

Stan Gebhardt

[A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul, page 94 - Click HERE]

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day

Franchesca May

Father's Day, an idea that is daunting for so many.

People wake up on the third Sunday of June, all to different situations. Some overjoyed by the fact that they have their fathers in their lives, and many saddened by the fact that the idea of a father is non-existent.

See, so many of us wake up to different realities surrounding fathers, yet there is one reality that all of us need to face: WE ALL NEED OUR FATHERS.

Many of us may be convinced that we're doing "perfectly fine" without our fathers in our lives, but we need to acknowledge that every figure in our lives plays a key role. That role can be fulfilled by a specific person only. Similarly with fathers. There is a role that only he can fill. We may form father-like relationships with other people, but that biological gap will always be there.

Many may not have close relationships with their fathers and may yearn for it, but the truth is it's not the end of the world. It becomes your role as a man to be the father you never had when you grow up, and it is your role as a woman to allow your child's father to be involved when you be come a mom.

Life is all about fixing mindsets, let it begin with us.

[Franchesca May - Junior Mayor of Matjhabeng]

Father's day!! Father's day!! Father's day!!

Alex Manise

It is that time of the year where every child is saying thanks to their fathers for being part of their lives. We as the children of this whole world would like to thank every single man out there who has played a role in one's life. This also includes uncles, brothers and even teachers! There is a huge difference between a 'Father' and a 'Dad'. A father is someone who has played a part in a child's birth only and a Dad is someone who might not have played a part in the birth of a child but is always available and supportive towards his child more than the father.

Many children out there neither have fathers nor dads, but they have single mothers - Mothers who play the role of both a mother and a father in her child's life. These women deserve to be treated like Queens and Kings at the same time and they deserve to be celebrated on this day as well! Instead of wasting time on crying over spilt milk when their husbands have run away or passed away, they stand up firm for themselves and their children. These are our pillars of strength.

We give thanks to single fathers as well, fathers that make sure that their children go to bed with something in their stomachs. Fathers that make sure that they grow young men to be leaders and role models of this country. The society has been ruined, the youth has changed, and days have been numbered for those who are ill-disciplined. We thank those fathers that discipline their children. That teach their children what it means to respect an elder. God says to us that "Respect your mother and father for your days to be longer on this earth", every child deserves a parent that they will respect and honour everyday.

Being a parent is a gift, but being part of any child's life on this earth is a blessing.
Fathers! Stand up when the time is still on your side, and take charge of your responsibility. Your child/ren need you. Fulfil your role and obligation when you still can.

[Alex Manise - Deputy Junior Mayor of Matjhabeng]

Father's Day

Gelukkige Vadersdag ...

Gebruik hierdie idee om vir jou
pa 'n mooi en maklike vadersdagkaartjie
te maak. Skryf 'n uit-jou-hart-
boodskappie vir hom en sê sommer
dankie vir alles.

Happy Father's Day ...