Daddy's Day at School
> > >
> > > Her hair was up in a ponytail
> > > Her favorite dress tied with a bow.
> > > Today was Daddy's Day at school,
> > > And she couldn't wait to go.
> > >
> > > But her Mommy tried to tell her,
> > > That she probably should stay home.
> > > Why the kids might not understand,
> > > If she went to school alone.
> > >
> > > But she was not afraid;
> > > She knew just what to say.
> > > What to tell her classmates
> > > Of why he wasn't there today.
> > >
> > > But still her mother worried,
> > > For her to face this day alone.
> > > And that was why once again,
> > > She tried to keep her daughter home.
> > >
> > > But the little girl went to school,
> > > Eager to tell them all.
> > > About a dad she never sees
> > > A dad who never calls.
> > >
> > > There were daddies along the wall in back,
> > > For everyone to meet.
> > > Children squirming impatiently,
> > > Anxious in their seats.
> > >
> > > One by one the teacher called,
> > > A student from the class.
> > > To introduce their daddy,
> > > As seconds slowly passed.
> > >
> > > At last the teacher called her name,
> > > Every child turned to stare.
> > > Each of them was searching,
> > > For a man who wasn't there.
> > >
> > > "Where's her daddy at?"
> > > She heard a boy call out.
> > > "She probably doesn't have one,"
> > > Another student dared to shout.
> > >
> > > And from somewhere near the back,
> > > She heard a daddy say,
> > > "Looks like another deadbeat dad,
> > > Too busy to waste his day."
> > >
> > > The words did not offend her,
> > > As she smiled up at her Mom.
> > > And looked back at her teacher,
> > > Who told her to go on.
> > >
> > > And with hands behind her back,
> > > Slowly she began to speak.
> > > And out from the mouth of a child,
> > > Came words incredibly unique.
> > >
> > > "My Daddy couldn't be here,
> > > Because he lives so far away.
> > > But I know he wishes he could be,
> > > Since this is such a special day.
> > >
> > > And though you cannot meet him,
> > > I wanted you to know.
> > > All about my daddy,
> > > And how much he loves me so.
> > >
> > > He loved to tell me stories
> > > He taught me to ride my bike.
> > > He surprised me with pink roses,
> > > And taught me to fly a kite.
> > >
> > > We used to share fudge sundaes,
> > > And ice cream in a cone.
> > > And though you cannot see him,
> > > I'm not standing here alone.
> > >
> > > "Cause my daddy's always with me,
> > > Even though we are apart
> > > I know because he told me,
> > > He'll forever be in my heart"
> > >
> > > With that, her little hand reached up,
> > > And lay across her chest.
> > > Feeling her own heartbeat,
> > > beneath her favorite dress.
> > >
> > > And from somewhere in the crowd of dads,
> > > Her mother stood in tears.
> > > Proudly watching her daughter,
> > > Who was wise beyond her years.
> > >
> > > For she stood up for the love
> > > Of a man not in her life.
> > > Doing what was best for her,
> > > Doing what was right.
> > >
> > > And when she dropped her hand back down,
> > > Staring straight into the crowd.
> > > She finished with a voice so soft,
> > > But its message clear and loud.
> > >
> > > "I love my daddy very much,
> > > He's my shining star.
> > > And if he could, he'd be here,
> > > But heaven's just too far.
> > >
> > > You see he was a fireman
> > > And died just this past year
> > > When airplanes hit the towers
> > > And taught Americans to fear.
> > >
> > > But sometimes when I close my eyes,
> > > It's like he never went away."
> > > And then she closed her eyes,
> > > And saw him there that day.
> > >
> > > And to her mother's amazement,
> > > She witnessed with surprise.
> > > A room full of daddies and children,
> > > All starting to close their eyes.
> > >
> > > Who knows what they saw before them,
> > > Who knows what they felt inside.
> > > Perhaps for merely a second,
> > > They saw him at her side.
> > >
> > > "I know you're with me Daddy,"
> > > To the silence she called out.
> > > And what happened next made believers,
> > > Of those once filled with doubt.
> > >
> > > Not one in that room could explain it,
> > > For each of their eyes had been closed.
> > > But there on the desk beside her,
> > > Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
> > >
> > > And a child was blessed,
> > > if only for a moment,
> > > By the love of her shining bright star.
> > > And given the gift of believing,
> > > That heaven is never too far
> > >
> > > They say it takes a minute to find a
> > > special person, an hour to
> > > appreciate them, a day to love them, but
> > > then an entire life to forget them.
> > > Send this phrase to the people you'll never
> > > forget and remember to send
> > > it also to the person that sent it to you.
> > > It's short message to let them know that
> > > you'll never forget them.
> > >
> > > If you don't send it to anyone, it means
> > > you're in a hurry and that
> > > you've forgotten your friends.
> > > Take the time...to live and love.
> > >