It’s Father’s Day!

There are not enough words, paper or time to describe what a great father my Dad was to me and my sister. I am quite sure he never read a book about being a father. He certainly didn’t take any classes to learn how to be a father. When he became a father there weren’t counselors he could turn to whenever things weren’t going as well as he hoped. He did however have a few key things going for him. First, he had a great father who provided a positive example to follow. His father was a tough Dutchman, a farmer, an entrepreneur, a no nonsense, no fluff kind of guy but also a man of heart and character. My Father was also a man of heart and character as well. The second thing my Dad had going for him was the never failing support of a wonderful wife. Along with her they became a duo that worked together in an unchoreagraphed waltz, always letting him be the lead, never stepping on each other’s feet, never contradicting one another, always moving in unison to an inaudible soundtrack. Finally, my Dad had faith. He had faith in his ability to do the job of being a father but more importantly he had faith that God was with him every step of the way.

My Dad provided a great example to follow. I wanted to be just like him and so many of the lessons I tried to teach my sons, as they grew into men, were based on the lessons my Dad taught me. Unlike so many young men today, I was blessed with a father who was home, who was involved and who cared enough to discipline me or my sister when needed. That is the kind of father I wanted to be and that is the kind of father I pray my sons will be.

Being a father should be a conscious choice. A choice made in concert with a loving wife. Being a good father takes work, it takes commitment. Being a good father requires the willingness to make gut wrenching decisions and the intestinal fortitude to do the right thing even when love for your child tempts you to override responsible action. Being a good father must include being a really good husband because without a strong, loving, husband wife relationship being a father becomes exponentially more difficult. To be a good father a man must be in control of his emotions because there will be times when anger goes beyond the simmering level, when fear confuses even the strongest man, when pride creates thick cataracts on the eyes, and when heartbreak shakes the foundation of faith. Being a good father also requires a willingness to admit when you don’t know the answer and to place your trust in our one true father, God. If you choose to be a father, be prepared because you will experience all of the above and more. Just know the rewards are so much greater than the trials.

So as Father’s Day comes and goes each year, always remember being a father is a gift, a gift from God, a gift that can be complicated because it carries great responsibility. If you are blessed to be a father, enjoy every minute of it because not everyone gets to be a father. If you are blessed to be a father stand tall, be firm in your love for your children, stay true to your heart and your character. If you are blessed to be a father, always thank your father in heaven and accept with a willing spirit the trust he has placed in you and take special joy each year when it is once again time to say, Happy Father’s Day.