06/14/2025
If you ask me about my Papa,
I’d probably smile and say he’s quiet, strong, and always working.
You might not always see him around,
but his presence? You feel it. Deeply. Always.
In the way he provides, in the way he protects us even in silence.
He’s been through more than he’s ever told us,
and I know there were battles he fought on his own— pain he carried quietly, sacrifices he made without needing praise.
Pa, I saw it.
I saw how hard it was for you to be away from your family,
to choose the pain of distance just to provide for my future.
And I will always be grateful for that.
I know it wasn’t easy—you were tired, frustrated, and sometimes hurting too.
But you still chose us. You still showed up in your own way.
He doesn’t say much, but he shows love in all the ways that matter.
And even if we don’t talk every day,
my heart knows him. I know him.
He’s my Papa—the one who shaped so much of who I am.
I’ve always been a Daddy’s girl.
And no matter how old I get,
a part of me will always look at him
like he’s the strongest man in the world.
Because to me, he is.
And I love him more than words will ever be able to explain.
Happy Father’s Day, Papa Riel! 💗
