Robin sent this too us last year after Father’s Day.
We always appreciate her writings and hope you enjoy it too!

What Is The Definition Of A Father?

by Robin L. Schwarz

I looked in the dictionary for a few definitions of the word “Father”. It said, in this order, “A male parent; any male ancestor; especially the founder of a race or family; any man who exercises paternal care over another or others; one of the leading men in a city or town; God.”
We all have many Fathers throughout our lives and most of the time we question their rules.
Whether they are right or wrong at that time, a lesson is always learned from their guidance.
We take these lessons and apply them to our lives. If we are lucky, they were good lessons and sometimes it helps make the person we become.
The dictionary had the word “God” as the last definition of the word “Father”. I personally thought it should have been much higher on the list. The lessons from him are too numerous to write about. One lesson happened when I was in my bank trying to get a cash draw on my credit card and the teller explained for the 3rd time it didn’t go through. As the tears started popping out of my swollen eyeballs I kept asking, “Why me God, why me?”
I later learned that by being delayed, I meet the lady standing behind me and we started to talk.
She invited me to a very important Chamber meeting where I met the people who encouraged me
to start writing for a purpose and for the enjoyment of others. My lesson . . . sometimes things happen for a reason and the man upstairs has a bigger picture.
My biological Father, who was a famous War Pilot, taught me to live, love and fight for my country. Always tell the truth and most importantly make one person smile a day. My lesson from him was that the act of honesty and humor work much better then lying and saying hurtful words.
My second Father was a world-famous Cowboy. He taught me something that applies to a lot of things in life. If you don’t want to fall off the horse and hit the ground anymore, take the time to learn how to be a better rider. The most valuable lesson I learned from him was to go to school and get a good education so ya don’t have to get up at 0’Dark Thirty and milk the damn cow for the rest of your life.
My third Father, famous in the plant world, was known by the name of, “The Sod Father”. He was sent to earth to help everyone. He unselfishly thought me generosity and that the community you live in is one big family. Always stick together and take the time to help each other. Many voices are stronger than one. My lesson from him, if you water it enough and apply the right amount of manure . . . it will grow.
All four of my Fathers are in Heaven now. Hopefully they will continue to guide me in my journey on earth and their wisdom be able to cut through the ozone layer they all warned me about.