Father's Day - The day where sons and daughters get together
to show their appreciation for dad, right?
Not for me. Today is my day to
celebrate the awesome, frightening, incredible privilege of being a dad. Much as I am grateful for the acts of appreciation,
I sincerely enjoy a day to stop and reflect on this one significant role that I
added to my life.
Throughout life we wear many hats: child, adult, parent,
student, teacher, employee, passenger, driver, team member, coach, caretaker,
friend, lover, spouse, artist, reader, writer and so many more. Few of these roles compare to the
unimaginable experience of fatherhood.
Parenthood, real parenthood, is not for the faint of heart. The joys and the sorrows, the excitement and
worry - it is truly a roller-coaster of emotion.
First, your love for your mate materializes in the words
"I'm pregnant." Then there is
anxious waiting and anticipation that climaxes with the announcement "It's
time." In one miraculous moment this new life emerges into the world and
they are your responsibility - to love, to care for, to nurture and to
introduce to all the wonders and possibilities of this amazing world. The very thought of it overwhelms your mind
and emotions.
For some twenty or so years you then standby as a guardian,
teacher, disciplinarian, coach, guide, confidant, and eventually, friend. You
struggle between holding on and letting go.
Ultimately, you are expected to release them completely, to make their
own way in the universe. Yet, no matter
how old they get you still feel the weight of responsibility for them. Through it all you cheer their victories,
console their losses, support their trials, hurt with them through their pain,
and laugh with them when life called for it.
You are the witness to so much of the formative and critical parts of
their lives.
Dads, you have signed on for a most amazing and beautiful of
missions. It will test your resolve,
stain your heart, leave deep scars, and sometimes tear you to pieces. In return, you have the privilege to share
in the unique creation of a human life, a character, a personality, and an
individual person. It will carry on for your entire life and you may never know
whether you were truly a 'success'. You
will make mistakes, guaranteed. Your job
is to persevere and do your best. In the
end, that is all you can do and the rest is up to them.
So dads of the world, today I salute you and encourage you
to celebrate the opportunities that you have been given. Remember to enjoy every moment that you have
with your kids, both the good and the bad.
We all have a fixed number of rotations on this globe. Today is your day, so commit again to doing
your best to earn the esteemed title of 'Dad'!
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