A Father's Love

This was shared with me today, methinks it's worth sharing.

Every year when my father would give us the Erev Yom Kippur bracha, he would always start it off by saying "don't worry I won't mess up your hair". Then he would give us a bracha and I could tell he meant every word of it and every time he would cry. Today the same thing happened but this time I'm in Israel. He called me and told me to feel his hands on my head and like every year before, "don't worry I won't mess up your hair". We both laughed for a second but then things got serious. He gave me the bracha and as usual poured his heart into it, crying to HaShem that the brachos should come true. The bracha is what every parent truly feels towards their child; that they should love and fear HaShem, that they should have righteous children who will do the same, and for a long life full of good.

Only recently have I started crying when he gives me the bracha because I look up to my father so much and I know how much he means what he's saying. Because my father used to be the chazzan, I would hear him literally crying his heart out every Yom Kippur to our Creator and it inspires me to do the same. But while pouring my heart out to HaShem, I also remember that He too is our father. He also sincerely wants the best for us, and I try to feel His hands on my head too.