Behind the Shadow of The Father

It was a very hot summer day. The whole world seemed to be burning. Inside an air-conditioned clinic, a doctor was still feeling the heat outside. He raised his head and looked through the window. He saw hawkers busy selling their stuff on the street, hustling and bustling under the red hot sun. Before long, he heard very noisy sounds. Several people carried a big fellow into the clinic. The man had already fainted, with sweat all over his body. A little young girl was following and crying.
After the doctor's examination, the man was found to have gotten a sun-stroke. He was then given some water and an injection, and gradually regained his consciousness. Seeing her father recovered, the little girl was relieved despite still sobbing. She took out her purse, put all the money she got on the table and wanted to pay the doctor for the medical treatment. The doctor said, "Forget it. You may take this as a little help from me." The little girl thanked the doctor but continued crying. Trying to cheer up the little girl, the doctor said, "Don't cry, sweetheart. I know you are a strong girl. You were out in the sun all day and you are still okay. Look at your dad, he isn't as strong as you are." The girl cried even more loudly. She said, " No! It's not true! Dad asked me to sit behind his shadow all the time. It was him who stood up there, blocking the sun away from me all day. That's why I'm okay and he's not!"

A father's love is usually straightforward, pragmatic and yet mostly unspoken. Like a mother's love, it is also always dedicated, unconditional and unreserved, and is readily available when you need it. While we usually tend to praise mother's love more, do take a moment to appreciate the love from the father.