What is the greatest gift your father gave you?
If you are a father (mother) reading this and are wondering what the greatest gift you can give to your kid(s) as a father, you are about to read real-life experiences I’d with my lovely father that could add many priceless happiest days to your upcoming days with your kid(s).
As a recipient of the gift from my father (and Mom), I believe the parents must give first before they receive it. When the kids are so young, all they know is receive. They don’t know how to give. It is the parents’ responsibility to teach them how to give, then receive.
My father gave me his most precious and valuable gift there was in his possession. I carry it with me wherever I go. It’s not heavy. It takes no storage space. It does not require any of my attention to take care of it.
Dad certainly spoiled me as he was always showering me with this gift daily. He didn’t shower me with candies, new dolls, dollhouses, new toys, new clothes or new shoes.
In fact, we were ragged. And no, we were not in a rag fashion show that you might have seen these days! Some people pay lots of money for ragged clothes. It’s beyond me if you were to ask me how to rag clothing is a fashion statement.
Our clothes were so old that they had holes, torn and stitches all over. We didn’t have any shoes in our possessions. We were ragged in appearance, but we were wealthy.
Dad was a wealthy man that I knew of. By wealthy, I mean differently than what you used to hear or know about the “wealthy” standard definition.
Let me explain…
The wealth in his possessions were all internal wealth. He was full of wisdom, very thoughtful, matriculate, methodological, wise and clever. He had his ways of teaching me. He taught me to accumulate my own wealth inside without me knowing until my later days.
His ways of telling stories, I could still hear his voice in my ears and remember the stories to this day. If there was something he wanted to get my attention and teach it to me, he told me a short story.
The wealthiest gift he never tired of giving was his true LOVE for me. My father passed away when I was very young and never knew how much his love that he gave me means to me. He was a father who was a macho man!
Are you a macho man? What does a macho man mean anyway?
Here is a macho man definition when I googled:
“a man who displays such characteristics. C20: from Spanish: male; see machismo. Word Origin and History for macho Expand. 1928 (n.) “tough guy,” from Spanish macho “male animal,” noun use of adjective meaning “masculine, virile,” from Latin masculus (see masculine). As an adjective, first attested in English 1959.”
Want to know my definitions of a macho man? Here they are in no particular order:
- A father is a man who shows love affections to his children and family.
It is very common in my Asian culture that parents do not show any love affections for their kids, especially the fathers. They believe the kids would get fat heads if they know or hear that the parents love them. The kids won’t thrive successfully in life.
- A father is a man who is not running a “tough love like military” style. There’s no need for the sergeant or big, bad boss attitude problems. He shows love for kids. He doesn’t need to hide his emotions/affections. If more fathers do practice it, he will feel lighter, happier and more peaceful as a person. He does not have to look tough to show his power.
What would you rather remember? You know your dad loves you because he always lets you know that he loves you, or he does not love you because he’s never ever been a time he shows his love for you.
- A father is a man who is not embarrassed to hold her hands or hang out with her in public. Yes, there are some men out there who are ashamed to be with their children.
- A father is a man who puts his macho man ego away, and he plays with his kid(s).
- A father is a man who is happy being himself.
- A father is a man who loves his children regardless of the child’s limitations, strengths or weaknesses.
- A father is a man who lives as it was his last day to be a father.
- A father is a man who is proud to be a father.
- A father is a man who fathers his children.
- A father is a man who gives the wealthiest gift to his LOVE to his child.
So if you are a man reading this right now, and you are wondering what valuable gift to give to your kids…
Please give your greatest gift to your children that you have in your possession. I hope you do have it. That is YOUR TRUE LOVE. Because it does not require so much effort from you to give. It’s naturally come from you.
That five minutes you sacrifice to be with your children, it could worth a lot more than you will ever know to your children’s well-being when they grow older. It’s the one gift that keeps on compounding and never goes out of fashion regardless of age, time and location.
Most importantly, your bonding relationship between you and your children will last a lifetime.
The ultimate wealthiest gift my Dad gave me was HIS TRUE LOVE. Looking back, I won’t trade that gift for all the dolls and new clothes I could get in this world. I’m blessed to have a father who loved me so much for who I am.
You give it a try to give genuine love to your children, and they could love you back infinitely for your selflessly LOVE.
A part of living a fulfilling life is to create the paradise within. That is to gift to your kid(s) YOUR TRUE LOVE.