This morning our pastor Sue mentioned three famous fathers: Father Abraham, Atticus Finch, and Bill Cosby. All had/have the faith and the guts to stand up for what they believed in. In that great book, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch says, “Before I can live with other folks, I’ve got to be able to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”
Many of our fathers taught us through words or action about how to be a strong person with a good moral foundation. My own father helped teach his daughters about good work ethics. We both tend to be perfectionists who are able to look beyond what we know to do and find other things that need to be done. “Trouble-shooting” is something I am quite good at. Daddy is also known for his gentleness and patience, yet he always let his little girls know limits. He held us to a high standard of behavior, leading with firmness if necessary… but usually all it took was “the voice” and we were skedaddling to do what we were told.
When I was a teen, I was stunned to learn that my own father was not a perfect human being. Fathers, like mothers, can only do the best they are able. Unfortunately, for various reasons some are not able to do much and the children suffer. They are human beings with human weaknesses. Sometimes we have to try to be understanding and forgiving. Fortunately, my father was always great dad to his girls. We love him so much.
Hopefully your father has given you good memories. This day I hope you have a reason to honor your father, or a father-figure in your life. One year I wrote a letter to my dad telling him all that I loved and appreciated about him. My sister wrote him a beautiful poem. He knows he is loved – now he has it in writing! I hope you let your own father know how loved he is.
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