A little thread of hope
By Joe Parr
Let us pray that when we find ourselves at the brink of despair and hopelessness that we can find a little thread of hope.
Remembering a friend
1995 Seattle, WA - A little thread of hope is sometimes all that exists between life and death.
A dear friend of mine took his own life last week. The light of his spirit had been snuffed out time and again. He at last was unable to muster the strength to light it anew. I talked with him often. Our conversations would go on without direction, but not without focus.
He was a father. He lived for his daughters. His wife's affair and subsequent divorce troubled him deeply, but he went on for his children. They knew his warm embrace, they knew his laugh, they knew his passion for life.
He was left with debt and bills beyond his ability to pay. He was left a visitor in the lives of his beloved children. He was left a proud man without the means to feed himself.
Deadbeat Dad
He was scorned by the law. He was scorned by his wife. He was scorned by the innuendo of dead beat dad. He suffered for all those things for which he had been praised as a married man as a hard working devoted father and husband.
This man had sacrificed all he had for his children without recognition. When his children echoed the venom of their mother, he lost hope for his children. He could no longer see the love in the eyes of his youngest daughter. I saw that love last night, rise again within the little girl. too late to save her father. Was he blinded by his pain?
I know his pain within my own life. I know the loss of a family. I know the shame and humiliation doled out to men who are dragged through the divorce court. I know the sting of false allegation. I know the loss of the battle for the one thing prized above my own life.
There but for the grace of God go I.
Beat Dead Dad
How is it that I am still here in a world which discards its fathers like wrapping paper on Christmas morning? How do the thousands of us survive what has bested my friend?
Is it the laugh of a five year old on the telephone?
A well placed hug from the child of our choice? A friend in need?
Yes. Our strength rises from what those events stir inside each of us.
We dream, WE DREAM, DEAR FATHER WE DREAM!
We dream of our children's smiles. We dream of hugs of compassion.
We dream of happy lives for our Children's children.
When those dreams are dashed from our hearts, we despair. Hopelessness overwhelms us.
We who are ready and willing to fight the gravest of fights for our families, lay down our swords when our dreams go dark.
Let us pray that when we find ourselves at the brink of despair and hopelessness that we can find a little thread of hope.
