The Power of a Father’s Love
Walking Beside Our Children Through Pain, Dreams, and Finish Lines
His name was Derrick Redmond. It was his childhood dream to be an Olympic athlete and after many years of hard work, he was finally there. The 1992 Barcelona Olympics would be the stage where he would display his gift of speed. That day, Derrick was running toe to toe with the world’s best. As the race continued Derrick’s confidence was growing. He was stride for stride with the front of the pack and he knew that he had not even kicked into his fastest gear yet.
As Derrick made his move to the front of the pack, it happened. A sharp pain ran through the back of Derrick’s leg, he had pulled his hamstring. Not only would he not accomplish his dream of winning the race, he possibly would not even cross the finish line.
The next scene would become a defining moment. In the midst of the roar of the crowd and the agony of a great athlete, the most unthinkable thing happened. Derrick’s father came out of the crowd and ran toward his son.
At this point Derrick stood to his feet and he tried to finish the race. His face was etched with pain and drenched in tears as he fell back down. He stood to his feet one more time and tried to hop his way down the track. With every effort, the viewers groaned as if they could feel his pain.
He told his father that he had to finish the race and his father’s reply was, “Then we will finish the race together.” For the next two hundred meters the world witnessed the power of a father’s love. Derrick’s father put his arm around him and step by step, hop by hop, they began to make their way toward the finish line.
As they made their way down the track, the entire stadium stood and began to applaud. When they finally crossed the finish line, time stood still. The crowd’s applause grew even louder and Derrick threw his arms around his father. He did it! With his father’s help, he crossed the finish line.
This story gives us a powerful picture of what we, as fathers, can do to display love and assist our children in the pursuit of their dreams. Our children will have many “finish lines” to cross. (Finish lines are simply dreams.) We need to let our children know that they don’t have to finish first; in fact, sometimes the victory is found in just finishing. Our children also need to know that as they are heading toward their finish line, there will be obstacles. If they should happen to fall and life seems to knock them out of the race, we will be in the stands cheering them on just like Derrick’s father. And if their journey becomes impossible to bear, they can count on us to come out of the stands and carry them across the finish line. That’s the power of a father’s love.
