Only a Dad

This photo of my son, Samuel, with our little grandson, Max, made me think of the old poem by Edgar Guest. This stanza in particular.

Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

SamMax

 

 

5 thoughts on “Only a Dad”

  1. Ingrid says:

    Here’s the complete poem by Edgar Guest. Every part of it true. It isn’t about the grand works you’ve achieved outside the family, I don’t care how “important” you think they are. In the end, the most important thing is whether you’re family is glad to hear your voice and whether you’ve lived with their best interest at heart. Fame, big achievements on any front, spiritual or otherwise, don’t matter in the end at all. It’s the faces and voices of those at home who determine your success as a father.

    Only a dad with a tired face,
    Coming home from the daily race,
    Bringing little of gold or fame
    To show how well he has played the game;
    But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
    To see him come and to hear his voice.

    Only a dad with a brood of four,
    One of ten million men or more
    Plodding along in the daily strife,
    Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
    With never a whimper of pain or hate,
    For the sake of those who at home await.

    Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
    Merely one of the surging crowd,
    Toiling, striving from day to day,
    Facing whatever may come his way,
    Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
    And bearing it all for the love of them.

    Only a dad but he gives his all,
    To smooth the way for his children small,
    Doing with courage stern and grim
    The deeds that his father did for him.
    This is the line that for him I pen:
    Only a dad, but the best of men.

    ~ Edgar Guest

  4. Beverley says:

    Precious.
    Ingrid, I am greatly blessed that you share these moments. Praying for many who do not have close relationships with family and yet we still can pray for the future generation that somehow the Word will be planted and the parents nurture the love of the Lord with their children.

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