Kudos to Dads Who Can Rock the Cradle — and Build It, Too
It is only fitting to acknowledge every one of you fathers who has loved your children, worked hard on and off the job, and provided for your family. An extra shoutout to those who stayed when your emotions said to go. You have sacrificed, you have instructed, and you have disciplined. You didn’t leave everything to your children’s mother. You rolled up your sleeves, changed diapers, and wiped noses—and you get extra, extra applause if you didn’t feel like you needed a “thank you” for doing those things because you knew it was just part of your responsibility, if not your joy, as a dad.
My dad passed away in 1993 at the young age of 46. But that doesn’t mean I don’t honor those fathers still among us—young and old. You’re seen, appreciated, and respected. I believe the role of a father is getting more difficult because you’re needed more. The world is just a little bit screwy right now, I’m sure you’ve noticed. Children must be able to look to you for grounding and truth, which is why you must be grounded in the truth. You deserve our prayers, fathers, as well as our “Happy Father’s Day” greetings, ties you’ll never wear (LOL!), and special dinners.
I love observing fathers who have cultivated meaningful relationships with their children. Guys, it makes a difference when you’re in the picture, where you should be. Ideally, that should be the rule, not the exception. Never underestimate your God-ordained role. We’ve all heard this: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” We immediately think of mothers, and I believe that poem from which we get that line was written with mothers in mind. But good fathers have their hands in the mix and the mess, as well. Don’t misunderstand: I have no desire to wussify men. Society, unfortunately, is doing its best to do that. No, I’m talking about men who can build the cradle and then rock it. It is that man who rules the world—with grit as well as grace—and builds a legacy in the process.
Happy Father’s Day, Dads! God bless you.
Photo: mathematica.org