Laws of Life Essay- Count Your Blessings

Laws of Life Essay1

My father’s name was Tim and he died when I was five years old. He used to always go away on business trips and every time he would leave I would get so mad at him because I wanted him to stay at home and play with me. This one particular time he left, I was even more upset because it was during the summer and all I wanted to do was go outside and play. I didn’t want him to go at all, and when it came time for him to leave, I refused to talk to him. I just pouted and stayed in my room. A few minutes later though, I think it was maybe ten or fifteen minutes,  he pulled back into the drive way. I saw his car out the window and got so excited because I thought he had come home already. When he got out of the car I ran outside and jumped on him and gave him a big hug and told him that I loved him. He hugged me back and told me that he loved me too. I asked him how his trip was and he laughed and told me that he hadn’t left yet, that he had forgotten something and I, being the five year old, got all mad again. I asked him the same question I asked him every time he left. Why  do you always have to go away daddy?  His answer was always the same though, its my job. He went inside, found what he forgot, and as he was about to leave again I ran up to him and gave him another hug. I told him that I loved him even though he always had to go on trips and he never took me with him. I stood outside and waved to him until I couldn’t see the car anymore and even then I was reluctant to go back inside. 2

That was the last time I remember ever seeing my father. He had a heart attack on the plane before it even took off. The next day I asked my mom like I always did when daddy was coming home, and when she started crying I didn’t understand.  I asked her what was wrong and she pulled me into a hug and told me that daddy wasn’t  coming home. I didn’t believe her and said of course he his, he always comes home. That’s when she told me that he had died. Being so young I didn’t understand. She explained in a way that I would understand, she told me that God had taken daddy back to heaven and that he wouldn’t be coming home again. I asked her why God took him, that we needed daddy here more. My mom just hugged me more and I kept thinking to myself that it wasn’t fair, God had all his angels, why did he have to take mine?3

Not too long ago, I was thinking about that day, and I realized that I shouldn’t be so bitter.  That maybe I should look for something to be happy about. And I found it. It was a rare thing that my father forgot something and I realized, that if my father hadn’t forgotten  that one thing, that he would have left without me telling him goodbye and that I loved him. Looking back I thank whatever power is up there, be it fate or something else,  for that chance to tell him that I loved him. Too many people today don’t tell those they love how they feel. You never know when something is going to happen to you or someone you love. I am still angry with that greater power for taking my father and not giving me a chance to get to know him better, but I also thank It now that It gave me the chance to say goodbye. The greatest weakness of most humans is their hesitancy to tell those they love how much they love them while they have the chance.  I’m thankful that I got the chance to do that, and I am lucky, because many people don’t get that chance. So, the next time you get a moment together, go  to the person you love and tell them how you feel. You won’t regret it.4