Twenty three years ago, my identity and life changed forever — for the better.
My first child was born and I became a father. I instantly understood unconditional love and was responsible for the care of someone whose wellbeing was more important than my own.
When our children are still toddlers, we imagine their unlimited potential. What will they learn? What talents will they discover? What will they create?
As my children learned and grew, I learned and grew with them. As they discovered the world, I rediscovered it through their bright and curious eyes. The universe and life itself had become more wondrous to me.
I understood what it must have been like for my own parents during numberless hours shared in Stanley Park and in the playgrounds around Burnaby and Vancouver.
My dad set the bar high for patience and generosity. Later as a busy young adult, I wondered how he could have been so free with his time.
When I became a father myself, I understood. It came naturally with a father’s love, and the more unconditional and pure that love, the more easily it would flow.
My children taught me much about giving out and giving forward without expectation. They taught me how to love more fully and unconditionally, and they taught me how to forgive.
They may not realize that it was they who helped me through the loss of my mother. They embodied my parents’ legacy.
The love my mother and father gave to me in our life together was the love I now give to each of my children and the love that they will give forward to others.
Now 16, 20 and 23, my children are talented and caring young people with their own bold and bright futures ahead of them. I am proud of the choices they have made and who they have become, but even if they were not all these things, I would still love them just the same because each of my children have taught me how to love. As I raised them, my children have raised me up and made me a better person.
Dr. Davidicus Wong is a family physician. You can read more about achieving your positive potential in health at davidicuswong.wordpress.com.
