A day (and a father) like no other

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

Father’s Day will soon be upon us, and as many of us make plans, buy a card, and find just the right tie, mug, or T-shirt to present to Dad, let us take a moment to reflect. This mid-June holiday takes on many different meanings, depending upon your relationship with your father, your age, and whether or not you yourself are a father. Before this one slips away, perhaps it would be beneficial to consider what makes a good father.

    Dads are famous for doing all types of jobs. Whether it is a spider that needs killing, something that needs to be fixed, or garbage that needs to be taken out, fathers have been called upon for years to meet these challenges head-on. Yet, it is not necessarily a father’s ability to conquer these or any other daunting tasks that we may come up with that measure the quality of a father.

    Fathers teach us many things, too. Children can learn a great deal from their fathers, such as how to walk, how to ride a bike, and how to drive. However, if this were all that could be learned from fathers, it would just be a matter of transportation. Fathers of some teenagers may, in fact, believe that is all their children really need them for, but this is far from the truth. 

     Regrettably, some of us have now realized that we could have learned so much more from our fathers had we only listened a bit more when we had the chance. And yet, it is not the education that they so willingly provide that makes a father great.

    The role of protector is also a duty that many fathers have taken up throughout the years. Many is the time a father has leaped to his child’s defense in an attempt to shield him or her from some pain or hardship that he believes would be damaging to his son or daughter.               

     Though this protection is sometimes unwanted and at other times unnecessary, it does not change the fact that this desire exists and does not go away just because the child has become an adult. Whether it is defending his son against a bully or staring down a young man who has just begun to seriously date his daughter, a father has been known to be almost as fierce as a mother. But it is not the instinct to safeguard his family against any and all would-be attackers that indicates a successful father.

    So, what is it? What characteristic does a father possess that makes us want to honor him on his special day? Quite simply, it is his uniqueness. He is our father. No one else can fill that role. Good, bad, ugly, or otherwise, our father is inextricably linked to us because he is ours. He isn’t perfect, nor is he always right. He’s even downright embarrassing sometimes, but he is ours and we are his.

    Holding your hand when crossing the street, getting carried inside when we fall asleep in the car, attending numerous ball games, plays, and concerts are all a part of the deal when you are a dad. Helping you move, getting your car fixed, financing your education – all a part of Dad duty. And, though they may not admit it, fathers wouldn’t have it any other way.

    So take some time this Father’s Day to sincerely say thanks to your dad. He may not act like it is a big deal, but it is – to both of you. Take it from those whose dad is no longer here for them to purchase that “World’s Greatest Dad” mug, it is well worth the time and the effort. 

     Your father is uniquely yours – a father like no other. Do what you can to make sure he knows that. 

     Happy Father’s Day to you and yours!