Showing posts with label dad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dad. Show all posts

Sunday, August 24, 2014

We Call Him Dad





One of life’s greatest blessings
In tender, countless ways
Is he who lives for others
And never asks for praise

A merciful example
Of love’s humility
He never seeks attention
Or lords authority

A friend, firm, honest, caring
His wisdom shaped by years
Of learning as he taught us
…warrior of prayer and tears

Patient and understanding
Too kind for flattery
But rather with encouragement
He spurs us faithfully

He is part of the best days
That any child ere had
And no matter how old we (or he) get
We still just call him Dad

© Janet Martin

We're getting together to celebrate my Dad's birthday. He is in good health after a heart attack and by-pass surgery this past winter. We celebrate with renewed appreciation!

Monday, September 2, 2013

To Fathers of the Bride





Dear Daddy, once her hero and the apple of her eye
Your best version of laughter and the reason you would cry
Your second miles and daddy-smiles, glad victim of her charms
Your ultimate contentment as you held her in your arms

Dear daddy, once her favorite guy and no one else came near
Or rivaled for the sweet affection of your daughter dear
And love would drive you from your rest to earn her bread and keep
But still you tip-toed in to kiss her or to watch her sleep

Dear daddy, she has found her love and it lies in another
Though it seems like just yesterday, once too you stole her mother
And surely once her daddy felt the way you feel today
As he replied ‘I do’ when they asked ‘who gives her away’

Dear daddy, hold your chin up, let her take your arm and smile
Thank God you lived to be the one to walk her down the aisle
And though today you give her to belong now to another
You'll always be her daddy; she will ever be your daughter

© Janet Martin






Monday, June 17, 2013

Blue-collar Heroes (a re-post)



Blue-collar brave-heart
He’s got no medals
No badges on his
Coat-sleeve or lapel
Working class warrior
Seeking no glory
Fighting life’s battle
And doing it well

Obscure battalion
Work-force deployment
Picks up the armor
Of shovel or cart
Low-dollar hero
Invisible valor
Witnessed by He
Who sees into the heart

Courageous convoy
Gallant and glorious
Punching the clock
While nobody applauds
Silently sacrificing
Over and over
And over again because
This is love

Blue-collar brave-heart
He’s got no medals
No badges on his
Shirt-sleeve or lapel
Working class warrior
Seeking no glory
Fighting life’s battle
And doing it well

© Janet Martin

Thank-you to all you blue-collar heroes, wherever in the world you are
Thank-you for coming home tired and still playing with your kids.
Thank-you for not telling them how to live, but showing them.
Thank-you for remembering that what is spoken is soon forgotten but what is done is long-remembered.
Thank-you for giving even when life takes more than it seems you have...
Thank-you for being brave without medals, honest without awards, and diligent without applause.
Thank-you Daddies!
...and don't give up.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

God Bless You Dad





For all the hard work that you do
For sacrifices left unsaid
While we reap the rewards of it
We simply say,
God bless you, Dad

For all the times that you’ve said no
To invitations that you’ve had
To have some fun with just the guys
But you chose home
God bless you, Dad

For all those things you do without
To keep a roof over our heads
Yet never tally or keep score
We pray this day
God bless you, Dad

God bless you Dad, too many times
We criticize instead of praise
It seems to me that you must be
The unsung hero
Of our days

For all those times we didn’t speak
The tender words we should have said
Today we want to take the time
To say, thank-you
God bless you, Dad

© Janet Martin


Thursday, June 13, 2013

A Boy Without a Dad



It’s hard to be a boy without a dad
The other fellows, without second thought
Say ‘my dad did this’ or ‘that’s what my dad said’
And suddenly I miss my dad an awful lot

It’s hard to be a lad without a dad
There’s things a mother simply cannot do
And oh, sometimes I simply wish I had
A dad that I could brag and boast of too

It’s hard to be a boy without a dad
Mothers are great but they can’t seem to see
The need to do those things that make us glad
Like dads, who also once were little boys like me

Dollars and cents are not enough to buy
The one thing that I dearly wish I had
My mother hugs me; I try hard not to cry
But it’s hard to be a boy without a dad

© Janet Martin

Friday, November 9, 2012

When He is Gone... #2





We cannot tell him then
Those words we ought to speak
Nor shake his hand or hug him
Or kiss his love-lined cheek

The ‘would-have-should-have’ ache
Of thoughts he did not know
Will not be there, if now we take
The time to tell him so

What good are accolades?
Or words, loving and dear
If we wait to express them
When he can no longer hear

Oh, tell him that you love him
Not upon a cold gravestone
But now; for all the words you speak
He cannot hear when he is gone

© Janet Martin

Poetics Aside Prompt: use the words 'When he is gone' somewhere in a poem .

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Some Dads...



Some dads are really, really cool, and some are really smart,
Some dads barely went to school but still have big soft hearts,
Some dads stand up straight and tall and look all sober-like
As if they’ve never thrown a ball or raced on their old bike,
Some dads like to tease and wink and some dads laugh a lot,
I guess, I suppose, it depends, I think, on how many bills they’ve got,
‘Cause dad says, as long as the bills keep a-comin’,
He’ll have to get up an’ keep on a-workin’,
And God bless the dad that keeps on a-hummin’
Even when the bills keep a-comin’

Some dads make lots of money and some, I’ve heard, are broke,
Some say things like sweetheart and honey and some dads never joke,
Some dads work from dawn ‘til dark with little time to play,
Some take their children to the park and some just go away,
Some dads work so very hard so mother can stay home,
Some dads are so very tired, when at last they come,
But, God bless the dad, who at the end of his day
Still gets down on his knees to pray,
And God bless the faithful dad who
Teaches his little ones to pray too

Some dads are really big and tough, while some are short and thin,
Some dads are kinda’ rough and some are gentlemen,
Some dad’s hair is curly and some dad’s hair is gray,
Some don’t really worry ‘cause their hair has gone away,
Some dads drive pick-ups shiny and new, some say any wheels will do,
As long as it takes me to work and such, and the insurance on it isn’t too much,
Some dads whistle and some dads sing,
At home some dads feel as rich as a king,
But for one thing I sure am glad,
God knew how much we’d need some dads

Some dads read God’s word every night, some never read at all,
Some dads teach us wrong from right to guide us lest we fall,
And some dads are a little like God, I suppose,
‘Cause through trial and error this dad knows
Though hearts be broken and sometimes need mending,
A father’s love is never-ending,
And God bless the dad whose love never fails,
When the going gets bad, love still prevails,
Thus, for one thing I sure am glad, God knew how much we’d need some dads,
Some dads’ sure leave big shoes to fill but the One who guides them will be there still,
Someday, when someone says they’re glad God knew how much we’d need some dads

Janet Martin

I wrote this a few years ago for Father's Day

Monday, August 29, 2011

Tear-stained Letter

We’re not as close as I wish we would be…
And I take the blame for that
I know…
I’ve made choices with which you disagree
And I’ve made you sad
But in spite of it all
I love you, Dad

I love you more
And separately
From any other love
You’ve taught me
More than anyone
on this earth...
Generously, unselfishly
By example
…a gift beyond worth
And for this
I love you, Dad

Seventy seems younger than it used to…
Because I don’t think of you as old
I pray as you go forward
God will truly make each day pure gold
Because I can think of no other
Gift I would rather give
Than simply my love to you, Daddy
As long as we both shall live…

I love you
For the legacy you’ve given me
I wish there were some things
That had turned out differently
I know… you wish it too…
For it breaks my heart to realize
You’re *the greatest man…
…I never really knew…

With all my Love
From you daughter, Janet

Happy 70th Birthday, Dad

*Reba McIntyre song


Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Eighteen Wheels


Eighteen wheels sure can play a lonesome tune
Especially as they carry you away from home
You’ll be back again soon, Lord willing, this I know
But as you’re shifting gears the mournful sonnets start to flow
And as I standing here waving good-by to you
I start thinking it’s amazing what eighteen wheels can do…….

While you see mountains, oceans all from cab-top view
I see an ocean of love in dearest eyes of blue
While you say hello Chicago I tuck little ones to bed
And we remember daddy as our bed-time prayers are said
So if ever you begin to feel a little blue
I’d like to remind you dear, what eighteen wheels can do…….

Eighteen wheels feed little mouths that laugh and sing and pray
Eighteen wheels keep mom at home when you are far away
Eighteen wheels means wood for warmth and shoes, and clothes and such
A thousand little things we take for-granted far too much
And eighteen wheels lets Sonny play a hockey game or two
Yes, we remember when we pray what eighteen wheels can do…….

Eighteen wheels can play a soulful tune
But dear, I know that you will be home soon
So when you’re far away and feeling blue
Remember dear, what eighteen wheels can do
Daddy we love and appreciate you
God bless and keep those eighteen wheels…and you

With love, from
Your wife
Janet~

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Holding the Future....or....Molding the Future


He’s gonna watch you, Daddy
See what you do,
Hear what you say……
And if you’re lucky, Daddy
He’s gonna want to be
Like you someday……

Janet~

Monday, November 8, 2010

The Parent


Put your nose to the old grindstone
So it goes till the work’s all done
Mouths to feed and bills to pay
Seems our needs don’t melt away
We get so tired, oh it never ends
Life can be hard with the toil it sends
But suddenly we realize
Responsibility is paradise

When we do it for brown eyes, green eyes or blue
Rewarded with soft hugs and I love you
Come on let’s face it, it’s not so bad
And we’d never replace it; being mother or dad

There is a measure of sorrow we earn
Maybe tomorrow we’ll see a return
As another wrinkle implants itself where
Youth once twinkled, unblemished and fair
Sweeping again, nobody cares
Extra hours put in at the job, in your prayers
Yet suddenly its cost becomes worthwhile
As you find yourself lost in a youngsters smile

And we’d do it again; in half a heartbeat
For the mischievous grin or a kiss so sweet
Back to the grindstone; aren’t you glad?
There’s work to be done ‘cause you’re mother or dad

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

Monday, August 30, 2010

Future.....


I held the future today
He looked at me in the most curious way
Innocent wonder and wide-eyed delight
Restless, mischievous, with no hate or spite
Waiting to absorb what we do and say
Oh, I held the future today…….

For just a little while
The future is ours in the heart of a child
Moments to guide, to mold and to teach
Before they leave our side; out of reach
But worth every tear, every sigh and each smile
The future is ours for a little while….

I hold the future today
The sweet, precious minutes slip softly away
The heart of this child will soon be a man
What are the values on which he will stand?
God, teach me to teach him the one true Way
As I hold the future today

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin



Children are our FUTURE!!!!!

Friday, July 30, 2010

I'm Glad you're Home...





I’m so glad you’re home
The place is not the same when you’re not here
It’s like part of me is missing
I’ve grown quite attached to you, my dear
Why is it when you’re gone I feel so empty
Or like a little piece of sun has gone away
It seems to me like someone’s always leaving
Will we all be home again some day?

The blue above me suddenly is bluer
The sun a little warmer on my back
When you’re gone I feel a silent hunger
When you’re home there’s nothing that I lack
It’s comforting to know you understand me
Without me needing to explain
When you’re gone the house is big and empty
When you’re home love is complete again

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin

This summer it seem to me
There’s always someone coming home…….or leaving

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Daddy's Home



I smile as I see you pull into the drive
They rush out to greet you, eight years old and five
With your five o’clock shadow to prickle their cheeks
Reaching to hug you midst giggles and shrieks
The scent of grime and sweat doesn’t matter
You lose yourself in their innocent chatter
Gone for now are the small plans you nurtured
A cold drink, a shower, a relaxing supper
For the very best hour of the day has come
When you hear your children shout “Daddy’s home”

Suddenly the weariness fades from your brow
As young tender arms remind you somehow
That there is a reason for all that you do
Blonde hair, pink cheeks and eyes of blue
Kisses as soft as a summer rain
Remind you that you have not lived in vain
And what could be sweeter as you pull into the drive
Than the unbridled welcome of eight and five
For the very best hour of their day has come
As they wrap you with love and shout “Daddy’s home”

All Rights Reserved
Janet Martin