A Conscientious Father Poem by Joseph T. Renaldi

You have been a conscientious father,
You always gave me a helping hand,
You comforted me during times of tribulation,
You always helped me take a formidable stand.

You always helped to satisfy my needs,
And to alleviate many of my daily fears.
You encouraged me when failure was inevitable,
And strengthened my will to succeed through the years.

You proudly supported me everyday of my life,
When the turbulence was rocky and long.
You instilled an everlasting courage in me,
Supporting righteousness - censuring evil and wrong.

Your positive guidance and direction enabled me
To restore strength and courage to my heart,
Never complaining as my formative years went by,
Accepting the responsibilities of doing your part.

Now, that you have departed from this earth,
A thought that always makes me so sad,
I gratefully remember what you meant to me,
As I tearfully say, ' Thanks for being a wonderful Dad.'