A father's love as an example of what a father figure means to a family and the strength he embodies.

I remember as a small boy that my father used his savings to send my mother to visit with her parents who lived far away. There was just my younger brother and myself in the house. One evening he came home and there was no food in the house, not even a slice of bread. My father also had no money and as hungry as we were, my brother and I went to bed hungry.

But I knew from the distress on my father's face that he could not stomach us being hungry. He left the house and about two hours later returned and quickly woke us up. He had in his hand two small potato pies, which he gave us to eat. I don't know where he got the money or the food but somehow he managed to get us something to eat.

My father had not eaten and had worked all day but he sat there and got great satisfaction from watching us eat. This has always stuck in my mind and left more of an impression than any amount of money he may ever have given me. At that moment, I felt secure and happy knowing that he was there and would not let us suffer.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that in difficult times it is important not to show weakness but strength and character. If a mother is the cement that holds a family together, then the father is the steel rod that strengthens that cement.

It is his values and actions and memories that have carried me forward and helped me to persevere and cope with my own problems in life. In my own turn I have learned that it is the precious time you spend with your children and the values you instill in them that will remain with them always.