(Without Ever Needing to Say It Aloud)
I meant to post this on Father’s Day. But I needed more time to reflect on what I have been feeling related to what my dad taught me about hope.
If I had to describe my dad with one word, it would be dependable.
Growing up, he was always working. I didn’t see him much. His days were long, his responsibilities heavy. But I never doubted that he would take care of us. He showed up, not in words or big displays, but in actions. You could count on him— always.
He built a life here in America, leaving behind everything familiar in Crete. He didn’t talk much about the hardship, but I know it was there. I know it wasn’t easy. And yet, he kept going. For his family. For a better future. That kind of strength shaped me, even if I didn’t fully understand it at the time.
When I wrote Hope is My Anchor, I talked to my dad a lot to get the story right. Manny’s determination, his grit, the way he keeps moving forward even when the path is full of obstacles. All of that came from my dad’s journey. My dad taught me about hope in everything he did.
This year, Father’s Day looked a little different. It was the first one without my mom. She passed away recently, and my dad is navigating life without her. And even now, he continues to teach me what real hope looks like.
I went to church with him. It was the first time in a long while we sat side by side in a pew like that. It wasn’t even his usual church, but you wouldn’t know it. He greeted people with such kindness.
Then we went back to his house and invited my in-laws over. My mom wasn’t there but he never hesitated to offer hospitality. He just stepped into the moment.
He told me he goes to her gravesite every other day. He doesn’t make a big thing of it. He just goes. The headstone is not even there yet. It’s just a bare piece of grass but hhe said he goes and talks to her. It breaks my heart, but it also moves me beyond words.
He’s hurting, I know. But he’s carrying on. Not for himself, but for all of us. That is what Manny did throughout Hope is My Anchor and that is what he continues to do in real life. Because it’s who he is.
If you haven’t read it yet, I hope you’ll read it now. Not just because it’s a book, but because it’s a legacy.
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To my dad and to all the fathers who keep showing up, no matter what: We see you. We love you. Thank you.
With love,
Anna
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