My Father, My Hero

    By vinod sonawane

    My Father, My Hero cover image

    01 Jun, 2024

    a man and woman sitting on a chair with a child in front of a fireplace with a bookcase, art & language, a storybook illustration, Colin Middleton, storybook illustration

    In my world, my father is a hero. To the outside world, he might seem like an ordinary man, but to me, he’s a mentor, a friend, and the best father anyone could ever ask for.

    a man sitting on a couch holding a child while reading a book to him and a little boy sitting on his lap, art & language, a storybook illustration, David Park, graphic novel

    Despite working long hours, he always made time for me. Helping with my homework, coaching my little league team, or simply listening to my endless stories, he was always patient and attentive.

    a man and a boy standing in front of a car on a road with trees and a sky background, private press, a comic book panel, Asaf Hanuka, yukito kishiro

    Once, we saw a car broken down on the side of the road. Without hesitation, my father pulled over to help, spending hours fixing the car and refusing any payment. 'Helping others is its own reward', he told me.

    a man and a boy walking down a street with a car in the background and a car behind them, serial art, a comic book panel, Asaf Hanuka, official art

    His kindness and selflessness were lessons that have stayed with me throughout my life. My father's heart of gold and genuine concern for the well-being of others have always inspired me.

    a man and a boy sitting on a couch in a living room with a painting of a man and a boy, lyco art, a comic book panel, Diego Gisbert Llorens, comic book

    My father also has an incredible sense of humor. He can find the silver lining in any situation, his laughter is infectious. His jokes and light-hearted approach always made me feel better.

    a man sitting on a couch holding a small boy in his lap and smiling at the camera with a family picture on the wall behind him, dada, a storybook illustration, David Park, storybook illustration

    He taught me the importance of laughter and not to take life too seriously. Even in the toughest of times, he could always make me smile. His laughter was my sunshine on a cloudy day.

    a family sitting at a table eating a meal together, with a man standing over the table with a plate of food, american scene painting, a storybook illustration, Byeon Sang-byeok, official art

    Over dinner, he often shared stories of his childhood, growing up with limited resources and working multiple jobs. His determination and resilience inspired me to pursue my goals, no matter how difficult they seemed.

    a man and a child sitting at a table eating food together, with a child sitting at the table, american realism, a comic book panel, Everett Warner, graphic novel

    Whenever I faced obstacles, I would think of my father’s journey and push myself to keep going. The value of hard work and perseverance was a significant lesson he taught me.

    a man and a boy standing in front of a house with a dog and a cat on the lawn, american scene painting, a comic book panel, Brothers Hildebrandt, graphic novel

    Once, I accidentally broke a neighbor's window while playing baseball. I was scared and wanted to run away, but my father made me face the consequences. We went to the neighbor’s house together, and I apologized.

    a man and two boys standing in front of a house with a boy holding his dad's hand, private press, a storybook illustration, Asaf Hanuka, graphic novel

    My father helped me work to earn the money to pay for the repairs. It was a tough lesson, but it taught me the importance of taking responsibility for my actions. His emphasis on integrity and honesty was a lesson well learned.

    a man and a child sitting on a couch in a living room together, with a window behind them, american realism, a comic book panel, Adam Dario Keel, comic book

    Perhaps the most special thing about my father is the unconditional love he gives. He has always believed in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. His support has been a constant source of strength.

    a man and a boy sitting on a couch in a living room together, looking at each other and smiling, private press, a comic book panel, Everett Warner, official art

    His faith in me has given me the confidence to pursue my dreams. Whether I succeed or fail, I know that my father will always be there, cheering me on. That's why he's my hero, my best father.