Now I had finally made up my mind, I still needed to make up other people's minds about my decision. Friends, colleagues and family, I slowly had to start telling them about my plans to leave Cape Town. Most of the people I told so far responded positively and were excited for me. Others did not seem to understand my choice at all. How could I just leave my comfortable life and the security of my job, to go on this journey, not even knowing where it will lead?
Now October is quickly coming closer, I remained with one more very special person in my life, who I had not told anything yet. I was not in a hurry to tell him. To be honest, I was even a bit scared of what he would think. That very special person is my dad.
My dad, my earthly father, is not a saint. He has his weakness, but he is one of the few men I admire most in the whole world. My father is not a pastor or a head elder, but I admire and respect him so much. He is not a professor or a lecturer, but he is my favourite teacher. I do not always agree with the decisions he makes, but I believe with my whole heart that he always has the best intentions.
He is a man of strength. My brother calls him a hustler, but I just think he is a man with deep love for his family, who would do anything to make sure we survive and are ok. He hardly tells us that he loves us, but through his actions we all know he does.
With no formal qualifications or masters degrees, he has been able to support us against all odds. When war took away everything he had worked hard for, and most men in the same situation gave up on life and on their loved ones, he went on living and giving. Life was often not good to him, but to us he managed to make things seem like a bed of roses most of the time. He just made us all feel safe, regardless of the fact that he knew not where our next meal would come from.
There was a time when he only earned R200, but he still managed to support a family of 9. Not even once did I hear him say we were too many for him to look after, or that he did not want to do it any longer. Not only did he feed us and put a roof over our heads, he also managed as much as he could to educate us, or rather find means and people to help educate us.
When no other members of our clan were able to look after the orphans in the family, he took them under his wings, and treated us like his own. After my own biological father passed away he allowed me to call him my father and he treated me like his own daughter. I love him for allowing me to be blessed like this and giving me the privilege of having an earthly father.
I really could not have asked for a better one. He taught me how to give, even when I did not know how. He taught me and my siblings to be survivors. I am where I am now because of my heavenly Father, but also because of my earthly father. I am so grateful to him, whenever I think of all he sacrificed and went through, just so that we could all eat and have bread in the morning, it almost brings tears to my eyes.
In my culture we hardly tell our parents how much we love them, or maybe it's just my family, but even though I don't hug and kiss my father and tell him I love him, I really do. And I hope some day soon I will gather the courage to sms him and say: love you dad. Eish, I really don't know how, but I will try. I hope he lives long enough for me to have the pleasure of introducing him to my children and grandchildren one day.
Last week, I finally gathered the courage to tell him about my plans. I remembered how he once told me that travelling helps one become open minded, and hoped he would still feel the same way about that now. At an unexpected opportunity, I told him straightforward, almost as if it was a casual thing. Dad, I will quit my job and go work in Zambia. And.... he agreed. He did not say a great deal on it yet, but he also did not say anything to stop me. He was supportive rather, exactly like I had hoped.
I am sure he must have thought: mmm... this girl... But I hope he can be proud of me for doing this later. I have never really wanted to become rich at any stage of my life, but my dream is to one day have enough money to buy my old man a nice car and a home. I do not see that happening any time soon, but well... a girl will keep dreaming. :)
I know it is not father's day, but who ever said we should only love and appreciate our old man on father's day? This post is for you dad.
Loads of love,
Your daughter
