The origin of Father’s Day is attributed to Sonora Smart Dodd whose mother died while giving birth to her. In an act of sheer bravery, her father, a war veteran, single-handedly raised her and five other siblings.
In 1910, grown and married, Sonora reflected on the sacrifices her father made for her and initiated the celebration to honour her father and all other fathers.
Today, Father’s Day is celebrated in many countries on the third Sunday of June.
Importance of fathers
A father is the Chief Executive of the family. He is the leader, protector, shepherd, organiser, director and a model. The survival of each member of a family therefore depends on the father.
President Barrack Obama, in his 2008 Father’s Day speech, said among others that fathers were critical to the foundation of each family. They were teachers and coaches. They were mentors and role models.
Fatherhood then is the cornerstone of the society. This means the father, the God-ordained leader of the family, is the greatest determinant of the health of the society.
Good fathers build strong families and strong societies.
The problem with fathers
Mother’s Day is a very celebrated occasion - third only to Christmas and Valentine - but we hardly hear of Father’s Day. This is because whereas we all remember the great sacrifices made by our mothers, many have very little positive memories of their fathers.
Most fathers shirk their responsibilities and virtually abandon their children. They spend their time and energy on business, politics and making more children they do not care for.
Imagine the case of a former African head of state who went to his office to find a very small girl. He was angry and asked his staff “Who the hell is this girl and what is she doing in my office?”
A staff replied, “Sir she is your daughter and she is celebrating her birthday today!”
The neglect by fathers has many negative effects on children because people learn the values and virtues of life during the formative age.
Without a father or with a father who is abusive and irresponsible, you could grow up with negative attitude about men and the world.
For example a woman who was not loved by her father may grow up and find it hard to trust and love her husband. Some hardly enjoy sex and rarely have orgasm because they cannot freely and completely let themselves go.
It becomes tempting for children to ignore their irresponsible fathers when they make it in the future.
Last year during Christmas, a medical officer in the US sent his father $50 and his mother $1,000 even though his father was poor and his mother was self-sufficent.
The father was greatly upset but the doctor was making his point; you reap what you sow.
Fact, however, is that no matter what your father did or did not do, see everything as God’s way to make you wiser and stronger. If nothing at all your father gave the ‘banker number’ and is therefore the reason for your life.
Any woman who thinks giving ‘banker number’ is easy should try it!
Celebrate fathers
Thank God for your father. Honour him because it is God’s command with a promise - that you may live long and all may go well with you. Forgive him unconditionally. Celebrate him.
Make time for him today. Talk about the past, the good and bad times. Share a meal and send a gift. Anything you can afford will do because it is the idea that matters.
Anything that is not celebrated dies with time. On the other hand anything celebrated grows in health.
The only way to motivate fathers to stand up to their responsibilities is to celebrate them because it makes them feel appreciated, honoured, loved and cherished. They will then do more for us.
Fatherhood is not about biology but about love and care. All fathers, brothers, grandfathers and everyone who shows love and care is a ‘father.’
Again, without fathers there can be no mothers or children. Father’s Day must therefore be a happy occasion for all.
Happy Father’s Day!
