Thirty-one years ago today, my world changed forever. I lost my father; a man I barely had enough time to truly know, yet a man whose absence would shape so much of my life. Back then, I was only a little boy, too young to fully understand the weight of death and too innocent to comprehend why someone so important could suddenly be taken away. I remember the confusion, the silence, the tears around me, and the emptiness that followed. At that age, I did not yet understand grief, but I felt it deeply. A part of my childhood disappeared the day you left us, Daddy.
Today, thirty-one years later, I stand not as that little boy anymore, but as a man. Life has taken me through seasons of joy, pain, victories, disappointments, lessons, and growth. I now carry responsibilities I once watched other men bear from a distance. I have become a father myself, raising a new generation and trying every day to guide my family with love, wisdom, strength, and dignity. And in many quiet moments, moments when the world is still, and my thoughts are loud, I find myself thinking about you.
I think about the sacrifices you must have made. I think about the silent battles fathers fight behind closed doors just to keep their families safe and comfortable. I think about the pressure of leadership, the burden of responsibility, and the unspoken fears that come with trying to provide and protect. As a child, I could never have understood these things. But now, as a man, I do. And because I do, I appreciate you even more.
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Life has taught me that fathers carry far more than people often see. They hide their pain so their children can smile. They deny themselves comfort so their families can have enough. They carry worries they rarely speak about because they believe strength means enduring quietly. Now that I walk that path myself, I wish I had more time with you. I wish I could sit with you as a man and thank you properly for every sacrifice you made, every prayer you whispered for us, and every dream you carried for your family.
Though death took you away physically, your presence has never truly left us. You still live on in our memories, in the values you planted, and in the strength you left behind. Your legacy continues in the lives you touched and in the family you left behind. There are moments when I catch glimpses of you in myself; in the way I think, in the way I love my family, in the way I fight to keep moving even during difficult times. Sometimes I wonder if certain strengths I carry today were quietly inherited from you.
Daddy, I truly hope you are proud of the man I am becoming. I am not perfect, but I try every day. I try to lead with integrity. I try to love deeply. I try to provide, protect, and build a future for my family. I try to raise my children with the same values of respect, hard work, faith, and compassion that I believe you would have wanted for us. In many ways, I am still learning. Life does not come with a manual, and there are moments I wish I could hear your voice guiding me through it all.
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We miss so much about you; your presence, your wisdom, your laughter, your guidance, and even the moments we never had the chance to share. We miss the memories that could have been created if life had allowed you to stay longer. There are milestones you should have witnessed, conversations we should have had, and moments where your advice would have meant everything. Yet even in your absence, your love continues to echo through our lives.
Today, as we remember you thirty-one years after your passing, we do not only mourn your absence; we celebrate your life, your impact, and the legacy you left behind. Your memory remains a blessing to us. Time may move forward, but true love never fades, and neither does the influence of a good father.
Rest on, Daddy. Continue to sleep peacefully. Your memory remains alive in our hearts, your legacy continues through us, and you will never be forgotten.
We miss you dearly, today and always.
Solomon Kolawole | KingSolomon's Mine | @ 2026
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