Erin Emmett
My father lived a difficult life, and much of his pain spilled over onto those around him. Still, I believe he was often misunderstood, and I find myself offering forgiveness—not to erase the past, but to release both of us from the heaviness of it. I have deep compassion for the battles he fought, especially the ones inside his own mind.
One of his favorite songs was “I Can See Clearly Now” by Jimmy Cliff, and I hold close the hope that those lyrics are truer now more than ever:
“I can see clearly now, the rain is gone…
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.”
“I think I can make it now, the pain is gone…
Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin’ for.”
Dad, it is my hope that you can finally see clearly now. May you finally rest in the light you never could quite reach in this life. I love you.