These Are My JOTtings...

Trudging Father's Heart

So many days he went to work asleep.
He'd stop along the road to walk around.
What hours he would drive,...our home to keep!
Dad's trudging love the tenderest I've found.

The week days saw him work from can 'til cain't.
In winter left in dark, returned the same.
The funds were meager for this living saint.
In trudging love he went and back he came.

The love I have for Dad remains as strong
as when he trudged to work in thankless task.
He gave his best to lift a weary song
at church and shared a prayer with those, who'd ask.

The weekends were two more quite task-filled days
of ministry to folks with many needs.
He preached the Word and joined in corp'rate praise
encouraging the faith beyond our deeds.

The trudging father's heart is now my task
to serve my daughter ev'ry way I can.
My weary love would give before she'd ask
in hope's the best would be hers by my plan.

When weariness comes knocking at my door,
I say, "I do not need the likes of you!"
"Then, why are burdens your great daily store?"
quoth he as stooping shoulders pointed to.

The burdens of the fam'ly can be great,
but loving fathers would not 'minish aught
Of task that fills their daily trudging plate,
'til younger ones are launched as adults taught.

by Jay O'Toole
on March 27th, 2018