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The Sacrifice of AngelsJun 17 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line My parents sacrificed everything they had for my happiness--was it worth it?
Sometime sooner rather than later, I'm going to be a father. The idea terrifies me. Financially, emotionally, responsibilitally, physically....and moreover, am I gonna have to share my TOYS with these little so-and-sos? The only real preparation I've had in looking forward to fatherhood is in watching and living with my own dad, and seeing what he's done for me and my siblings. And that scares me even more, because if I could sum up my father's life in one word, it would be "sacrifice." I'm the second of three children, and when I was born in 1973, we lived in Stephenville, Texas. My dad was a professor at Tarleton State University, making okay enough money that my mom could stay home with me and my sister, and life seemed to be pretty good. Then, a series of health problems and the death of his own father meant that we pulled up our roots and moved to Utah, where both sets of grandparents lived. In my dad's case, the father is also a son. Although my parents had siblings in Utah, they wouldn't care for my grandparents, so Dad made the decision to move "home" to take care of them. This sacrifice meant that in the smaller community of Utah, my dad couldn't get a job teaching as a professor, so he took other jobs...wasting his talent and being unhappy until just a few years ago, when he started teaching at a local college again. Over the years, he and my mother have had as many as three jobs a piece trying to keep our family in our home and keep us minimally supplied with the things kids "need"...a few sets of school clothes, an old used bike, barely-running cars, some toys for birthday and Christmas, my little brother's hospital bills...the Reagan Years weren't kind to us. But our parents did everything they could to keep us happy and to keep each other happy, even when (and this was often) it meant sacrificing their own time, talents, money, energy, and everything they've been blessed with. ...And that terrifies me. Will I be as strong as my own father? Will I be up to the challenges that being a parent of the 21st Century demands? Will I keep my family safe from the ever encroaching evils of the Brave New World? When will we EVER be able to afford a house? These are some of the things that keep me awake at night. I can only hope that watching my father's own example of sacrifice has taught me the lessons I'll need to learn; unfortunately, experience is an even better tutor. Don't get the idea that my parents life has been one of pain, misery, and regret--the good has outweighed the bad in their lives. They've got three children who are happy and successful and having a great time; better yet, we're all out of the house, which frees up Mom and Dad for things like trips to Europe and Alaskan Cruises and driving all over the Western U.S. just for kicks. They've also got two (so far) grandchildren who love to visit Grandma and Opa, even though Opa is like an amalgam of Frank Costanza, Archie Bunker, and Jack Nicholson on "As Good As It Gets." I love my Dad for what he's taught me purposefully and directly, but perhaps more so for the lessons I've learned watching him and how he's remained steadfast in support of my family, grateful he was up to the task that I will soon be taking upon myself. Thanks, Dad. THIS IS A PART OF A FATHER'S DAY WRITE OFF HOSTED BY SUMO_RHINO; PLEASE READ THE OTHER EPINIONS, REVIEWS, AND ESSAYS BY THE FOLLOWING TALENTED WRITERS: sumo_rhino shalott JAMES23 jkkelley sloucho LDiablo mattjoe JNGowan Nathanael73 dougsanders AggieBrett Arazim GinaHill kevlog mike.holmes AdaDavis MadTheory Howard_Creech scoobysnack00 Thanks, and have a great Father's Day!  |
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