My Tribute to Dad

Firstly, I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone who came out today. Thank you all for the incredible support you have provided for my family and me during this incredibly difficult time. Your love means the world to us, and we appreciate each and every one of you.

Where do I start? Well, I never thought I’d be standing in this position, doing this so early in my life. I’ve always been hopeful about time. But time is precious—that is something I am learning every single day. It is so important that we give time to our loved ones as much as possible. Through everything, I have to trust that God’s timing is always the best timing. It’s not an easy thing to understand right now, but it is a truth we live by.

My dad was the true definition of a man. He was a man who acknowledged his wrongs and spent his life correcting them. I know he spent a lot of time thinking about how he could be a great father to his children. My only wish is that I had told him more often that he was the best father I could have ever wished for.

He was a man who never let any obstacle distract him from being who he was. Seeing him go out to work every single day to provide for us, without a single complaint, taught me everything I need to know about dedication. Even though he didn’t always give me formal life advice, the one thing he always advocated for was for me to be better than he was. I keep that lesson close to my heart every day.

He was a typical dad. If someone were to ask me what my relationship with my dad was like, I would say it was complicated, but in a wonderful way. He corrected me when I was wrong, made sure I understood my mistakes, and showed me how to fix them.

He was also a deeply religious person. He always made sure I stayed in tune with God and His teachings, and he was very strict in that aspect. If you didn’t show up for Bible study, you wouldn’t hear the end of it—my brother can absolutely attest to this.

He wasn’t a loud person normally, as some of you may know. But once you got to know him, he could be the loudest in the room on his day. A prime example of this was whenever he was behind the wheel, feeling the need to get his point across to the driver in front of him about how terrible their driving was. My mom can definitely verify that.

At his core, he was a man who always took care of the people he loved. He treated everyone like family and would always extend a helping hand whenever he could. He was respected and loved by everyone. That is exactly who I aspire to be, and I hope he is looking down from heaven today, proud of the son he raised.

'Life is short' is a saying we hear all our lives. My dad used his time here on earth wisely. He did not take anything for granted. He was firmly grounded in his beliefs and valued what it meant to have a family. He made it his life’s mission to be better for his family, and that is exactly what he did.

I know he is looking down from heaven right now, proud and grateful for the legacy he left behind. Rest in peace, Dad. We love you