Dad,

 During those last few days,
You were hurting so much.
You looked at us,
Your eyes pleading for help,
For sympathy, understanding,
Anything.
But we couldn't help you.
We just sat with you, watched you and offered you
Unspoken compassion.
We didn’t say
Anything.
But deep down we knew…
And realized you knew, too.
 

For our few wonderful years we had with you,
We, your family, understood you, remember only the special qualities.
It will be the little things
that we will remember
the quiet moments, the smiles,
the times of family togetherness you so sought,
the laughter.
And although it may
seem hard right now,
it will be the memory
of these little things
that help us push away the pain
and bring the smiles back again. 

We do not question why you chose to make the decisions you made.
They all add up to a treasure
of fond yesterdays
that we shared and spent together,
and they keep the one you loved (Mom)
close to you in spirit and thought.
 

The special moments
and memories in your life
will never change.
They will always be in our hearts,
today and forevermore.
 

Hence, those we love are never really lost to us--
we feel them in so many special ways--
through the friends and family who you always cared about
and the dreams you left behind,
in the beauty that you added to our days...
in the acts of inner strength we will carry with us
and the memories that never will be gone...
 

Those we love
are never really lost to us--
For as long as we live on,
You will, too.
 

We love you, Dad!