The difference a father can make in a child’s life is enormous. And, in so many ways. This Sunday, we celebrate Father’s Day. Dads all across the country will be honored, appreciated and thanked for all the wonderful love and support they provide for their kids – at whatever age. And, while fathers are highlighted on this special occasion, the truth is that the important work of a father, like that of a caring mother, requires a 24/7 effort 365 days of the year. You can never predict those moments when a dad’s advice, encouragement or intervention can make all the difference.
As a father myself, I’ve often asked myself about ‘how I can be the best dad I can be?’ I’ve found Father's Day to be a special moment where we as father’s are given a little extra attention, but also is an important day to recognize and appreciate the bonds between family. I was discussing Father's Day plans with a friend this past week when he shared his own story of how he came to really appreciate his own father and the sacrifices he made to give both he and his siblings the tools to lead a successful life.
A World War II veteran, his dad got a job after the war that put him on the road regularly. It’s a common story amongst many in my generation and for my friend, it created an incredible amount of tension in his home when he grew up, to the extent he felt he didn’t really understand his dad and left him feeling a bit bitter about their relationship. Yet eventually he left home for college, graduated, got his own job, and started to build his own family. He said over time, as he faced the challenges of life, he began to realize the hard work and sacrifice his father made was all in the quest to give his own family the chance to grow and succeed. Not only that, as he had his own kids, he found that the bond he shared with his father only grew as he had a renewed perspective on the ups and downs that come with being a dad.
Now a very successful businessman, he said that he feels every day is Father’s Day to a degree, because oftentimes, we take our parents for granted, especially when we’re younger. We may not fully appreciate the things they do for us, notably through the difficult moments, until we grow a bit older and gain some perspective on life away from the home where we grew up in. Sometimes we may have had to reconcile relationships with our parents, including our fathers. Whatever the case may be, most of the time what our fathers do for us is out of love. If it feels misplaced or misguided sometimes, that’s ok, the important thing is to find the love through it all. As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, I encourage you to take a moment to cherish this important relationship and celebrate the positive difference our dads have made in our lives.
