I was the eldest of two brothers. My younger brother, five years my junior, was tiny, mischievous, and very attached to our father. Our house was always filled with laughter – the laughter of the two of us playing together, calling out, "Dad! Dad, can this toy car run yet?" or "Dad, who's better at soccer, me or my brother?" But it was also the sound of our calls when we fought over toys, bickering over a cookie or a candy. Dad was the mediator, the one who "healed" all the messes of our innocent childhood.
There were days when Dad was away working, and she would often ask, "Why is Dad taking so long? Has he come home yet?" Then, in the evening, she would toddle into the room, climb into Dad's bed, and whisper, "I'm going to sleep here to wait for Dad to come home..." Every time he called, she would push her ear against the phone, trying to be the first to speak: "Dad, can you come home tomorrow and take me to school?"
And there are also unforgettable mischievous memories. One day, my sister and I were so engrossed in playing at the edge of the village that we forgot to take her home for lunch. When we got home, we found Dad waiting with a cane. I saw anger mixed with worry in his eyes. I carried my sister and thought to myself, "If we get punished, only I will bear the consequences; she's still so young." A simple memory, yet full of love, because in those moments of being scolded, we learned about brotherhood and, more than anything, the silent worry of a father.
There was also a time when I did something wrong and my father sternly reprimanded me. I was sad, so I went to him and asked, "Dad, do you still love me?" He didn't answer immediately, but pulled me into his arms and gently said, "I scold you because I love you. I hit you not because I hate you, but because I want you to grow up to be good people. You'll understand when you become a father yourself..."
And now, as an adult with my own small family and children who affectionately call me "Dad," I truly understand the wisdom of that teaching from years ago. The children who used to call out "Dad!" whenever they stumbled, were hungry, or wanted to play are now repeating that same journey with their own children. And I realize, as the old saying goes: "Only by staying up all night do you know how long the night is; only by raising children do you know the sacrifices of parents."
I understand what sleepless nights and worries are like when a child is sick. I understand the feeling of waiting at the door for my child when I'm late getting home. I understand the nameless anxieties about a child's future… And the more I understand, the more grateful I feel. Grateful for the years my father silently sacrificed, grateful for the times he scolded me to teach me to be a good person. My father is old now. His once jet-black hair is now streaked with gray. But his eyes, his quiet posture, his love remain as pure as when I was a little boy. No matter how far I go, no matter how busy I am, I know there will always be someone waiting for me, not needing flowers, gifts, or anything extravagant, just hearing my voice call out: "Dad, I'm home!"
Thank you, Dad - my first teacher, the quiet hero of my life!
Hello, dear viewers! Season 4, themed "Father," officially launches on December 27, 2024, across four media platforms and digital infrastructures of Binh Phuoc Radio and Television and Newspaper (BPTV), promising to bring to the public the wonderful values of sacred and beautiful fatherly love. |
Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/19/172354/khi-con-lam-bo-moi-hieu-long-cha
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