So, it is Father’s Day 2024. What does this look like for you and for me? There are special words which are used like Father, Dad, Daddy, Abba, Papa, Pop, Pere, Papi, Otousan, Vader, Appa, Baa, Apa, Tata, Tatus, Papcio, Abah, Amang, Pai and the list can go on and on. We also have Grandpa, Pappa, godfather, Adopted Dad, Stepdad, Foster Dad, Absent Dad, Present Dad and this also goes on and goes on for so many of us. But all the titles call us to remember that each of us have a Dad in some capacity.

The common way to see Dad is as a provider, fixer, caregiver, one who is our strength and support, and most importantly one who loves us. Protector, Role model, emotional-partner and friend. Sometimes he is silent, sometimes he is noisy, a disciplinarian, maybe absent, maybe lost and in so many ways just another person on the journey of life.

I like the model set by St. Joseph. He is the consummate experience of a loving, trusting, faithful father who is tasked with the unbelievable job of being the foster-father of Jesus. He does not say much, but his actions are his words. He is quiet, hardworking, trustworthy, always present, a guide, a source of strength, a handyman and skilled laborer. He is a man of faith and a person of doubt; he is strong and weak at the same time; he wonders, is adventurous, has a keen sense of humor and yet is caring and a great lover. He is courageous and gentle while being faithful to his spouse and son.

Only we can know what kind of father we are, what kind of father we aspire to be in our family.

I believe we need to be careful not to judge our own fathers because they tried and even when they failed, they were still our Dad. Maybe, they had problems, were scared, fearful about life, addicts, abusers, or whatever. I believe we can love the person but not necessrily love their behaviors.

 In the presence of The Unifying Father all come to understand that the primary role of Father is to Love because The Father is Love! The Creator is our greatest model, aspiration, goal and vision. All fathers are called to celebrate their co-created and co-creator inheritance as well as to look at how we are doing and being.

Let’s look not at our titles or entitlements but at the legacy that we hand down to those we Father. Happy Father’s Day!