WhenIwasfive,mybiologicalfathercommittedsuicide.ItleftmefeelingasthoughI'ddonesomethingwrong;thatifIhadbeenbettersomehow,maybehe'dhavestayedaround.Mymotherremarriedshortlythereafter,andthismanwasmydaduntilIwasnineteen.IcalledhimDadandusedhisnameallthroughschool.But,whenheandmymotherdivorced,hejustwalkedaway.Onceagain,IwonderedwhatwaswrongwithmethatIcouldn'tkeepafather.

　　Motherremarriedagain,andBobwasawonderful,kindman.Iwastwentynowandnolongerlivingathome,butIfeltagreatloveandattachmentforhim.Afewyearslatermymotherwasdiagnosedwithcancerandwasnotgivenlongtolive.Shortlybeforeshedied,Bobcameovertomyhousealoneoneday.Wetalkedaboutalotofthings,andthenhetoldmethathewantedmetoknowthathe'dalwaysbethereforme,evenafterMotherwasgone.Thenheaskedifhecouldadoptme.

　　Icouldhardlybelievemyears.Tearsstreameddownmyface.Hewantedme-me!Thismanhadnoobligationtome,buthewasreachingoutfromhisheart,andIaccepted.Duringtheadoptionproceedings,thejudgecommentedonalltheundesirabledutiesofhisprofessionandthenwithatearinhiseye,thankedusforbrighteninghisdayashepronouncedusfatheranddaughter.Iwastwenty-five,butIwashislittlegirl.

　　Threeshortyearslater,Bob,too,wasdiagnosedwithcancerandwasgonewithintheyear.AtfirstIwashurtandangryatGodfortakingthisfatherawaytoo.ButeventuallytheloveandacceptancethatIfeltfromDadcamethroughagain,andIbecame,oncemore,gratefulfortheyearswehad.

　　OnFather'sDayIalwaysreflectonwhatI'velearnedaboutfatherhood.I'velearnedthatitisnotdependentonbiologyorevenonraisingachild.Fatherhoodisamatteroftheheart.Bob'sgiftfromtheheartwillwarmmysoulforeternity.