The power of a father’s love

Belinda Elliott

導讀：父愛的力量是偉大的，這不僅僅體現在對孩子生活的幫助，更多的是對孩子成長道路的影響。

I owe my father a huge thank you！ Sure， I need to thank him for all those years of paying my bills， and providing a shoulder to cry on. But this year I realized that he has given me much more than that. He has influenced who I am at the very core of my being.

I grew up as Daddys Little Girl. If I had a problem that needed solving or a question that needed answering， he was the one I ran to. He advised me through everything from homework as a high school student to job choices as a young girl. He always expected that I do my best in whatever I did， and he believed I could succeed in anything I put my mind to. As a result， I learned to hold myself to those same standards. Besides， he always showed me unconditional love， which helped me learn to love myself. It was something Id taken for granted until I realized from talking with my friends that they had no similar view of their self worth. Having fathers that didnt believe in them left them to grow up not believing in themselves. As I was growing up， my father also showed how a woman should be loved. He treated my mom with love. As a result， I grew to expect nothing less than that from the men I would marry. Dad also was a living picture of being kind and helpful.

It was only recently that I realized what a great effect fathers have on their childrens lives. That is why I want to thank my dad for the good example of love that he has been to me throughout my life.

Vocabulary

owe ?v. 欠……，應給予

standard ? n. 標準

take for granted ?認為……理所當然

treat ? n. 對待

（每年6月的第三個星期天是父親節，今年的父親節馬上就要到了，你也有什么話想對父親說嗎？）