I grew up in the afterglow of the women’s liberation movement. My father was absent and that was just fine, according to the women in my life. Fathers, men in general, were optional accessories.
Decades of growth, reflection, and healing later, I’ve come to understand how flawed that thinking was.
A man who embodies the role of father (biological or not) serves the entire world. Father in this context is more a verb than a noun and requires no biological link, but it usually helps.
What fathers do often goes unnoticed. Unlike the common work and contribution of mothers, a father’s input is often more difficult to glimpse, but it is absolutely as powerful.
The predictable and reliable presence of a man who stands up to life’s challenges and protects his young creates ease, confidence, and self-worth in a child. Children are brilliant and quickly deduce that they must be valuable to deserve such care.
A child secure in their father’s steadfast care and provision moves through the world wearing an energetic cloak of confidence and protection.
A father is the model of a man to his sons and his daughter’s first love.
We need him.
This weekend (and each day), I give my love, admiration, and heartfelt appreciation to the men who despite the challenges and the prevailing myth of your insignificance stand true for your children.
You are the champions and I treasure you.
Thank you for this! Reading it brought a smile and a wee tear to my eye at the same time. As a father who has far too often had to fight to see my sons or have information and access to their activities and where they are at, I appreciate this, Cynthia.
Happy Father’s Day Ian 🙂
Cynthia, thank you so much for sending your love to the father’s in the world. My daughter is getting next month to a fine young man. It has been a great honor for me to be her first love.
In love and gratitude,
Ross
I grew up in a similar atmosphere. My bio father disappeared early in my life and my step-father was more a step-monster. I had a skewed idea of a father’s role. But then I had my own children and I began to understand how important dads can be. Unfortunately, I married a man like my own father so that didn’t work out for my kids but I hope the cycle ends with me.