Tribute To My Caring Dad (Oyinade Nathan-Marsh)
Daddy, I just took it for granted that you will be around forever. Writing this tribute is so difficult, not because I don’t have a lot to write; because you are a man of many parts; torrents of memories keep flooding into my mind.
So many fond memories of the good times you spent on earth. Your life was a mirror for us, your children.
Indeed words fail me! How do I begin to describe a Dad who never tired of giving wise counsel; spending time with us or going out of his way to help people. Daddy was a man, who always, readily gave of himself, time and money. Dad would take time off his your busy schedule to engage us personally; I remember Ibadan days; you’d personally take us on swimming lessons though we had a coach. Oh how you would tickle us till we could hardly breathe. I so remember when you tickled Folake until she fell into a bucket of hot water.
You were a great orator. Sometimes, you would engage us in ‘tutoring’ conversations for hours non-stop and you never got tired. Very early on in life while growing up, I learnt words such as industrious, meticulous, conscientious accountability from Dad. Dads tool for reprimanding us was having a talk! Oh, were they long torturous. Dad would talk you to a dizzy spell, a very uncomfortable experience and very effect tool of punishment, I tell you.
Your level of understanding was an inspiration to me. Never one to criticize, yet he was blunt and factual in pointing out your mistakes and correcting you. You were a perfect example of an organised person, a deep thinker, as well as being analytic, philosophical and tactical. In giving advice, Dad will rather take you through the maze of possible outcomes of the array of choices that lay before you. He could gently nudge you in a particular direction, but he would hardly impose his own choice of action. He was a very wise man indeed.
You instilled the value of hard work in us with your workaholic nature and disciplined work ethics - Dad hardly took up the perks of office as the Medical Director, NOH, Igbobi yet he worked so hard. I remember mummy would sometimes comment on the heaps of files Dad brought home from work.
Dad, you were highly commited to your work. You chose to save lives and you were always ready to put your all into doing just that. At times I felt Dad would over react or choose to believe that a particular case was ‘that extreme one case in a million'. This attitude, in one instance that I know, did save a life.I remember Dad performing the operation to remove the mole on my leg for fear that it may grow cancerous sometime in future. You found uncommon joy in saving lives of people, regardless of your relationship with them.
When you started your private practice in Ibadan, you would treat everyone regardless of if they could pay the fees or not. Dad, only you could have attempted to rehabilitate a thief after you’d treated him for free.
Dad truly loved and enjoyed his work, he had true passion for people. I recall how he would make us spend Christmas visiting the patients at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi. Growing up, we felt you subjected us to an awkward Christmas celebration, but over the years, it taught us a lot of priceless life lessons.
Little wonder, Pa Oguntimehin will always say to us whenever we visited his house with you, “Make sure you emulate your Dad in hard work and contentment”.
You spent your life well and I can confidently say without you daddy, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. You built a strong foundation no one can take away, because you taught/lead us by example. Today, we’ve grown up with values you lived by; values of honesty, fairness, humility, selflessness, self sacrificing, hard work, dedication, compassion, contentment and empathy for the vulnerable.
Dad performed his grandfather role wonderfully. When Femi (his first grandson) was going to University as a fresh man, Dad insisted on going with him to see him settled in properly. He ensured he attended land mark events of his grandchildren.
You have left me with fond memories. I would miss your gist. How you would regale us with stories of your growing up days. They were always captivating. You always had that sweet smile on your face. When I close my eyes, I can visualize how you would clap your hands and do a few dance steps….
I have no doubt in my mind that you are resting in the bosom of our Lord and Heavenly Father because you loved God till you breathed your last.
Like Mary in the bible, I believe you ‘chose the good part’. You stayed resolute in your service of God. Nothing was too much for you to give to advance the work of God. I remember vividly how you wouldn’t stop thanking God even for the seemingly little things of life. When recounting your blessings, you’d start by saying ‘ the way this MY God deals with me…”
The financial and physical effort you put into rehabilitating St. Matthias Church is phenomenal and exemplary.
Those memories and many more are priceless. I will continue to cherish them for as long as I live. I love you Daddy…. I miss you Dad.
Like Apostle Paul, you have fought a good fight, you have finished your course and you have kept the faith.
Rest well Dad, Dad….
Oyinade Nathan-Marsh.