Happy Fathers' Day

With All My Love, Dad

Music was a huge part of his life and something he shared passionately with his kids.  I, too, love music but I never memorized lyrics, or knew the artists and the albums the way the three of them did. Somehow, it was just a natural thing for them. So I was not surprised when he said he would always communicate with us through music. That is what Tim told me in a dream-visitation. And that is what he has done all these years since he's been gone. Through music, he has reached out to show his love, guidance and reassurance that he is still with us. Many times on the road the kids would say, “Dad’s here or Dad’s playing DJ again,” as his own particular music would start playing on the radio. It has always brought us comfort and the validation of his continuing presence in our lives that we so desperately needed.

Every Fathers' Day, we extol the virtues of our fathers and appreciate their presence in our lives. But for us whose fathers have passed on, there is that longing deep in our hearts to turn back time so we could have them with us once again.  There will always be that question lurking in the backs of our mind about what our fathers would've said or done in certain situations and events in our lives. We  long to hear their wise counsel, lean on their sheltering strength, and rest in their quiet love. They know what we are trying to say to them but, sadly, we will never have the satisfaction of a reply in person, at least while we are still on earth. In the early days of my grief journey, I was told by a dear friend that our loved ones who have passed on are always tuned in to us. We just have too much "noise" from our end of the frequency that keeps us from hearing them. She reminded me to always trust in the signs - a hummingbird, a penny, a feather, a billboard, a dream, a song.

So one night, Tim gave me the nagging inspiration to make a video for Devon and Bailey to relay a message from him for Fathers' Day. He led me to this old song, Make You Feel My Love written by Bob Dylan in 1997 which I had never heard of. Listening to the song, it wasn't hard to see him singing it to his kids. He could very well have written the lyrics himself. . . and signed it, With All My Love, Dad.

Make You Feel My Love

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rollin' sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
To make you feel my love