Canfield Jack - Chicken Soup for the Fathers Soul

What People Are Saying About

Chicken Soup for the Fathers Soul...

Chicken Soup for the Fathers Soul reminds us all there is no more special or sacred role than that of being a father.

Merlin Olsen
NFL Hall-of-Famer, actor

Chicken Soup for the Fathers Soul highlights the limitless love a father can have for his child.

Robert Dedman
chairman, Clubcorp

The stories in this wonderful collection show that the love of a father can be one of the greatest gifts we can ever know.

Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.
author, What Women Want Men to Know

The wonderful stories in Chicken Soup for the Fathers Soul remind me that being a father is the greatest gift I could ever receive, and being a great dad is the best gift I could ever give my children.

Matt Markstaller
father

Chicken Soup for the Fathers Soul is a fun read for those who wish to recall the best decision they ever made: becoming a dad.

Clyde Drexler
former NBA player

A loving father is a blessing to his children, and these touching stories illustrate the complex emotions and countless joys of parenthood, setting a spiritual example for dedicated, caring fathers everywhere.

Sara OMeara and Yvonne Fedderson
founders of Childhelp

CHICKEN SOUP
FOR THE
FATHERS SOUL

Stories to Open
the Hearts and Rekindle
the Spirits of Fathers

Jack Canfield
Mark Victor Hansen
Jeff Aubery
Mark Donnelly
Chrissy Donnelly

Backlist, LLC, a unit of

Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC

Cos Cob, CT

www.chickensoup.com

In loving remembrance, we dedicate this book to
Robert L. Donnelly.
Your heart, soul, love and wisdom
live on within these pages.

Contents

Graham Porter

Bob Welch

Gunter David

Adelaide Isaac

Stefan Bechtel

Bill Shore

David R. Wilkins

Bob Carlisle

Marty Trammell

Hugh ONeill

Andy Smith

Stacey Becker

Frank M. Dattilio

Ernie Witham

Jim (Fieberg) Berlin

Bob Welch

Lenny Grossman

Brent L. Cobb

Hugh ONeill

Jim Hornbeck

Ron Chapman

Richard Cohen

Mark Treyz

H. L.Bud Tenney

W. W. Meade

Linda L. Kerby

Barbara A. Crowley

Richard H. Lomax

Michele Campbell

F. Anthony DAlessandro

Dee Berry

W. W. Meade

Gary Rosberg

John G. Giovanni Grippando

Bits & Pieces

Ken Swarner

Bits & Pieces

Jim Warda

Ken Swarner

Tina Karratti

Erik Weihenmayer

Brian Keefe

Ivan Maisel

Becky Freeman

Calvin Louis Fudge

Bits & Pieces

Mark Donnelly

Gerald R. Winner

Susan J. Gordon

Tom Krause

Robert D. McLane II

Allison Harms

Holly Smeltzer

Chris Schroder

Stanley R. Frager

Calvin Louis Fudge

Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn

Stephen Fay

Mitch Anthony

Ken Swarner

George Parler

Floyd Wickman and Terri Sjodin

Mike Harden

Bob Perks

Beth Clark

Victoria Robinson

Linda Rivers

Rosalie Silverman

Steven M. Wheat

Hugh ONeill

Sean Coxe

Jan Nations

W. W. Meade

Jeff Bohne

Joan Lewis

June Sandra Karshen

Pamela Underhill Altendorf

Loralee H. Hartje

Walt Harrington

James Ruka

Motherhood. The word evokes warm images of comforter, nurturer, healer and giver of unconditional love. Fatherhood, on the other hand, summons more stalwart visions of protector, provider and purveyor of wisdom. A fathers love, though just as strong and reliable, is not always wholly captured or conveyed with quite as much emotion.

We embarked on this project three years ago because we wanted to try and capture the elusive essence of fatherhood in all its myriad forms. Often misunderstood, the relationships between fathers and their children are many times more difficult to define than the bond mothers form with their offspring. In the course of this journey, we found that fathers, too, can be comforters, nurturers and healers. They can be comedians, coaches, leaders and teachers of lifes greatest lessons.

Each contributor to this book writes of someone touched and transformed by fatherhood. Many of the stories were written by fathers, but youll also find insights from sons, daughters and grandchildren who have felt, understood, and have been changed for the better because of the love of a father.

Perhaps some of the stories will help you to better appreciate the vital role you play as father; others may give you new ideas on how to express love to your family. Yet others may touch a place in your heart and awaken a truth hidden about the depth of love your own father harbors for you.

We were enchanted and enlightened by these stories, and we hope that you will be, too. We discovered that even though some fathers dont express their feelings verbally, they experience just as much emotion, and at times even more deeply, than mothers. Fatherhood is filled with incidences of pain and healing, confusion and insight, tears and laughter. It is indeed unconditional love, but in a different flavor than motherhood. It is this quiet celebration of the fathers soul that we have sought to bring you.