On account of the pandemic impact of fatherlessness in our current society, Father’s Day is probably one of the less celebrated holidays.
In actuality, most churches will sermonize a strong thunderous message about fathers who do not father and overlook the faithfulness of the men who understand the role of a father in the lives of their children and those they mentor.
This in itself is a travesty.
I have oftentimes wondered and pondered if persons who speak on Fathers’ Day ever consider focusing on those fathers who work hard every day to provide for their families?
Perhaps they would focus on fathers who not only work, but also help their children with homework, teach them life skills, or attend sporting events to show their love and support for their children. Have we allowed the negativity of fatherlessness to blind us to the positivity of good fathers? Let it stand for the records that I am in no way proposing that we ignore the impact that fatherlessness has on children.
Instead, I propose that we spend at least 364 days of the year addressing those issues through community outreach, classes for fathers, and intervention for fathers who struggle with other issues that prevent them from being the father that their children desperately need them to be.
Fatherlessness is an issue for the entire society and its impact does not discriminate. Therefore we must address its short-term and long-term effects in our communi5ty and by extension society.
However, on Fathers’ Day, good fathers should still matter and should be uplifted and honored at least during this one-day out-of-the-year that Fathers’ are recognized nationally.
There are thousands of fathers who are being good fathers even in the face of non- recognition from society. These men understand the impact that they are making on their children and those whom they mentor.
It would be wonderful if churches, fraternal organizations, civic leagues and other organizations all around Canada would proclaim Fathers’ Day a day of recognizing that, “Good Fathers Still Matter.”
What would that do for those fathers? Would it encourage them to do more? Would it encourage them to reach out to other fathers? I am confident that it would make a positive impact on the lives of the fathers, children, and society as well.
Let us not allow the negative stories to hijack Fathers’ Day. Instead, let’s celebrate the men who understand and demonstrate the powerful impact good fathers have in their homes, communities, churches and in the world.
Let us shout to the mountaintop on Fathers’ Day, Good Fathers Still Matter!
Aleuta Continua — The struggle continues.
