What is your name : Carol Tankersley

Who do you want the poem written for: James J Clift, my dad

Why do you want the poem written: We are celebrating his 80th birthday on 8/20 and I would like to be able to tell him what he means to me and to share with all of our family and friends what he means to me.

What are the key messages you would like to send: That I know how hard he worked to provide for his family. We never really wanted for anything. That I'm glad he was chosed to be my father because he introduced me to my heavenly father by the way he has lived his life and therefore I have riches untold that I would not trade for all the money in the world. He sowes a garden each year and it's always bountiful but the most important thing he has sown has been a love for Jesus Christ and he will reap many rewards in heaven and I am so proud to be his daughter.

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: We have always heard stories of him and his siblings walking barefoot in the snow to school, having to eat lard and green bean biscuits for lunch at school. He had thick black curly hair when he was a young boy that must have stood a good 6 inches high off of his head and now he has none. He served in the Navy. I love to hear his stories about the Navy and he is so handsome in his Navy picture. When he met my mother (Pauline) he had a motorcylce and her mother did not want her to date him. They married anyway of course. My mother passed away several years ago and we worried about him being alone but he met the most wonderful woman, Ethel, and they are now married and she takes such good care him. We have an inside joke about him not being able to hear well so you can mention something about "017 and 0".

Do you have any other comments or thoughts: He was offered a very good job at TVA and turned it down because he would have to work on Sunday and would not be able to go to church. That seemed so silly to me at the time but now I'm proud of him for taking that stand. In every major decision I've made in my life, I've always asked myself "what would Dad think of me"?

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): Happy but also touching

Please choose which package you would prefer:Standard

Do you have any last comments or thoughts: I would like to also mention these Bible verses in some way:Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.Exodus 20:12Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Brilliantly Bright

Family, friends, ladies and gentlemen, can I have your attention please? Because every now and then in life, there's opportunity you should seize. And that moment is upon us, after all, it is Dad's 80th birth-day, and I've got some thoughts on my mind, yes, I do have some heartfelt words to say. Firstly, I'd like to begin by saying "I love you", I've never said just how wonderful you are, but if my love for you were a distance, then it would be further than the furthest star. I know that you've always worked so very hard, always, just to provide for us, your family, and because of you, we never wanted for anything, you made our worlds a great place to be. You sow your garden each and every year, and of course, it's bountiful with many a flower, but you've also sown a love for Jesus in your daughter, I know I'll reap many rewards when it comes to my hour. I'm so very proud to be your daughter, I think of you, my chest swells and I fill with pride, and I know I couldn't have picked a finer father, I know I couldn't - even if I'd tried. We've heard tales of you walking barefoot in the snow, and for lunch, there'd be green bean biscuits and lard, and tell me, what happened to your thick black curly hair? You most have combed it too often and too hard. I love to hear about your Navy stories, you were so handsome in your navy uniform, and when you met mother you had a motorcycle, Pauline's mother wasn't keen (you were hardly the norm). But you had many years of wonderful marriage, until sadly, mother passed away, we were worried about you being alone, but gladly, there was to be another wedding day. Because you met and married the wonderful Ethel, and now she looks after you wherever you go, although, we reckon you don't hear so well, so I think it'll be OK to say "017 and 0". I remember when you turned down that job at TVA, I remember it seemed silly to me at the time, quite offhand, but it meant you would have had to work on Sundays, so I'll admit, now I'm very proud that you took that stand. I've always asked myself, "what would Dad think of me?" in every major decision I've made in my life, and that's one of the reasons I'm so happy now, and it's why I made the right decision as a wife. I'm so glad you were chosen to be my father, because you introduced me to my heavenly father, My Lord, and because of your inspiration, the way you lived your life, I have not just flown, I've literally soared. I have riches untold and wealth beyond measure, and I would not trade these for all the money on this Earth, because I know the value of a father's love, yes, I know exactly what your love is really worth. Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it, and long ago, father showed me the path, the way, and I haven't wandered from it, one little bit. Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land, the land which the LORD your God gives you, (I think these are words you'll understand). Because they were written so long ago, but ever since, they've shown the way to the light, and father, I just wanted to say thank you, because your love has shone so brilliantly bright. And I also wanted to say Happy 80th Birthday, I guess that's really what these words are for, here's to you, father, you're truly wonderful, and here's to at least another eight more!

Copyright www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk 2009

Allen Jesson

Comments:

This is truly wonderful. I love it.