Father

FATHER Father, a strong figure, who we look up to and admire for he is the provider and the protector, who puts roof over our head and puts food on the table. A good father is a good provider, to provide the children’s needs and sometimes what the children want. He is a strong protector, who guards and shields the children from any harm, hurt and mischief. He at best, maintains a well-balanced home preserving the peace, yet imposing the rules and engagements to follow, to have order in the house and aspire to build each child’s character. Instilling in his children’s hearts good values, instructing to be good and right, encouraging being the best they can be, showering love and affection and speaking words of wisdom to carry on and pass on to the next generation. Father, is the one who picks us up, when we fall and says to try again. The one who consoles and encourages, when we are hurt and broken. The one who prepares us to stand tall and be proud. Although, there are fathers, who are stern, strict and controlling, or even hard disciplinarians and rigid; when, they are not even good examples of good character. They lack self-control, are insecure, immature, callous, insensitive, abusive. Sometimes, their vices come first before their children. There are also fathers, who are enablers and give their children everything they want to the point of bailing them out of misdeeds and covering up their mischiefs. There are admirable fathers, who become the primary parent, raising the children on their own, thereby, giving the motherly touch in addition to being the fathers. There are men, who become fathers before they even have their own children. The ones who take on the responsibilities of being a father to step children. There are absentee fathers, who just leave their children behind. Or the ones, who come and go, not even caring for the children. They live like rolling stones, for they only think of themselves. There are men, who impregnate women, and become fathers, who may or may not even know that they fathered a child. Or the ones, who leave upon knowing the women are carrying a child. Ready or not, men become fathers. They may not be perfect fathers; but who is in this imperfect world? Although, some fathers try to be. Yes, some fathers try to be the best they can be, inspite of balancing the demands of being providers and fathers. However, sometimes the demands of high powered careers or two jobs to provide for the children’s needs can be demanding and time consuming that they might not be around in some important occasions. For some, men do not know how to be fathers because they grew up in dysfunctional families and are learning how to deal with their own personal issues or insecurities. Deep in their hearts, they love their children. They just don’t know how to show it. Fathers, who art thou? Let us forgive our fathers, who may have failed to do what an ideal father does. A forgiving heart has no boundaries for it goes beyond understanding and beyond all odds, as it opens our hearts, our mind and our souls. So, honor thy fathers, no matter what, for we will not be here without fathers. It will also lay a strong foundation for our own integrity and character. 6/1/21 Written: 2019 Published in 2020 .