My Father's Day Message to My Own Family

Today is Father’s Day, and I think that there is no more important day in my life than today. We lost a very important person on Friday to our daily lives, and that is Tim Russert. He exemplified what we all need to remember, that our families are more important than anything else in our lives. Wealth, financial success, fancy cars, what country club we belong to, we company we work for, what stores we can shop at, what address we live at and all the other measures of how we define ourselves should always be secondary to what is most vital in our lives, how we treat our spouse, our children, our brothers and sisters and our grandchildren, if we have any.

I have been so very blessed in my life. I am still working very hard to establish my own financial wealth and standing, but that pales in comparison to what I strive to do every day, which is to be a loving and supportive father, a caring friend and loving partner to my wife, a doting grandfather of six spectacular grandchildren (and I keep Ireland in my heart every day) and an encouraging friend and brother to my brother and sister. I also love being an uncle to all of my wonderful nieces and nephews.

Tim Russert, no matter how much success he had and how many world leaders he got to rub elbows with, never forgot where he came from, who he was and that he was nothing if he forgot his family, friends and the home he loved. My own father, whose memory I carry with me every single day, helped to shape me to be who I am. I have so much of him within me, but I have become my own person and have chosen to adopt so much of what I loved about him. He was not perfect, but who is. I once came over to find him sitting in the hot sun, which we know he always did, and as we sat there alone in the backyard, he said, “I want to tell you something about your mother.” I thought, oh-oh, but he said, “I have never loved your mother more than I do at this moment. I have been so lucky!”

I want to wish all the fathers here today the happiest Father’s Day, because we deserve it. We all know if we can be a better dad than we are, as I do sometimes, and I will always work at being the best dad I can be. Beverlee, who will be 39 this September, still needs her dad. She honored me over eight years with wishing to be my daughter, and when I take a moment to assess what an amazing life I get to live with Cynthia, I am truly humbled.

My grandson, Jesse, was in our hotel room last Monday night, and as I watched him sitting at the desk doodling on a piece of paper, I was wondering what he was writing, but when he turned around and handed the note to me, it said, “Hi, Grandpa Mark. Hope to see you soon! I love you.” Life is very, very good.

My message today is that Tim Russert has reminded us all how short life is. We don’t know what’s around the corner. We could all live another forty years or go next week. Tim Russert, as early as he left this earth, had sixteen years longer than I had with my dad. Cynthia and I are thinking of her dad today. He was a lovely man. I only got to meet him once, and then he was gone. He asked me what my intentions are with his daughter, and I can tell you I brought a smile to his face.

It is the most important thing to tell everyone we love that we love them. Now is the time. There’s no time to wait. I have done that today or the past couple of days. If you haven’t done so, what are you waiting for?

I love you all very much!

***Read to my family June 15th