Matthew Mariscal’s Fathers’ Day Insights.

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Vern here:  I just had to share this, off of Facebook, with the permission of the author, Matthew Mariscal, a good friend of the blog and fighter for justice in Anaheim:

I remember so often, my dad would tell me, “Son, don’t be like me.” He never wanted me to join a gang like him, get tattoos like him or do drugs like him. He always asked me to not be like him.

As a kid, I always told myself I wouldn’t.

As I got older, not being in a gang, not doing drugs nor having tattoos, I felt like I kept my word. I’m nothing like my dad.

One day recently I was sitting thinking about this, thinking about how my pops never wanted me to be like him.

I realized that the drugs, tattoos and gang life weren’t him. Sure, they’re choices he made. But they’re weren’t him.

My dad was the kindest man I’ve ever known. I cannot recall one single time he ever raised his voice at me to discipline me. It goes without saying, he never spanked me either. I cannot recall a time I ever saw him and he didn’t tell me how much he loved me or how proud of me he was. I cannot recall a time he ever forgot to give me a kiss on my forehead either. I can’t recall a time where he didn’t try to share some kind of knowledge with me that he had learned. I can’t recall a time where he forgot to tell me to pray and love God.

Looking back at it today, I pray to God I’m half the man he was. For a long time, I tried to keep my word to him and never become like him. He never gave himself the credit. I had to reflect on who he was to realize I want to be just like him. I want to be the man he was and have the heart he did. He is the greatest man I’ve ever known.

Pops, I want to be just like you.
Happy Father’ Day.
RIP my KING.

About Admin

"Admin" is just editors Vern Nelson, Greg Diamond, or Ryan Cantor sharing something that they mostly didn't write themselves, but think you should see. Before December 2010, "Admin" may have been former blog owner Art Pedroza.