I didn't write this earlier for a lot of reasons, none of which are important now. I'm not even sure that I can do it justice now, but I must try. On March 11th, the father of three of my students passed away. While Bernard's passing will have a lasting imprint on my life, it has not impacted me as much as he did while he was with us, nor as much as children have in the time before and since his passing. While I suppose I knew Bernard better than most of his kids' teachers, it's obvious that the hilarious, compassionate, fiercely loyal, proud man I knew was nothing but a glimpse of the man he truly was. It frustrates me that I was unable to see that before, for how else could he have raised two such amazing, yet vastly different young men as Jeffrey and Peter? Or such a humorous, tough, beautiful young lady as Tyler?
In hearing about Bernard throughout the past week and half, from his friends and family, it is obvious that he was loved . . . but the truly amazing thing is that he was loved for so many different things. For one, he illustrated the epitome of what it was to be a man, for another, he demonstrated how to be the very best of friends, and for colleagues around the globe Bernard was the 'go to' man for issues, both personal and professional. For me, someone who someday hopes to have a successful family and job, he was the model in how to do that. Not just in how to do that, but how to thrive in that. Jeff mentioned that there "...wasn't anyone [Bernard] met that didn't instantly love him..." and how very true that was.
In the days immediately following Bernard's death, I have witnessed his children coping with the loss and have felt nothing but the utmost compassion and love for each of them. I truly believe that this is the first time I have ached to take someone's pain for myself to ease their burden. They have been handed the worst life has to give them and have risen from their grief with enduring strength. I have no doubt that each of them will, with time, be able to step one foot in front of the other and travel a path that will make their dad proud . . . after all, he never failed to recognize how amazing each of his kids are.
I'll never understand. Perhaps I'm not meant to. I hope, however, that Jeffrey, Peter and Tyler (Molly and Sara too) know that a father's love for his children trandscends time and even death and that while those of us still here will walk beside them in life's journey, he will forever be watching from above.
In the days immediately following Bernard's death, I have witnessed his children coping with the loss and have felt nothing but the utmost compassion and love for each of them. I truly believe that this is the first time I have ached to take someone's pain for myself to ease their burden. They have been handed the worst life has to give them and have risen from their grief with enduring strength. I have no doubt that each of them will, with time, be able to step one foot in front of the other and travel a path that will make their dad proud . . . after all, he never failed to recognize how amazing each of his kids are.
I'll never understand. Perhaps I'm not meant to. I hope, however, that Jeffrey, Peter and Tyler (Molly and Sara too) know that a father's love for his children trandscends time and even death and that while those of us still here will walk beside them in life's journey, he will forever be watching from above.
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