Father’s Day is new to me…only a few years in now and counting. The thing that gets me thinking about this day is how I used to feel about this day before I had children…I guess, I really kind of didn’t give it much credence before. I did those the things a son should do on this day for his father – the phone call and if convenient a card, and the occasional invitation for dinner…a kind of going through the motions when I remembered to do so. Truth be told I missed a few of these ‘days’ for sure…just as I have missed a birthday phone call or two (probably much more than that) for my father, and siblings too! Not because I didn’t care or love them…it’s just that somehow that part of my brain that should be hardwired to give these events some sort of precedence…simply ain’t. It’s an element of my behavior that I have worked hard to overcome and thankfully smart phones are little smarter than me when it comes to remember important dates, birthdays, etc…however as a new Dad I have a different perspective. I am going to use Father’s Day is like a check-valve of sorts…an indicator for me of how things are going and how I am doing as a Dad. I don’t mean to overstate it’s importance…but it seems to me when Sonora Dodd first proposed Father’s Day back in 1910 to celebrate her own father’s influence, contribution and sacrifice for her, family and country…she was motivated by all the purest virtues, memories and love of her father – by all accounts a great man and father. My hope…to be a father of some measure of accomplishment, and meaningful depth in connection to my children…that through the fullness of time I will have influenced their lives in the manner and quality that is confirmed through their desire and motivation to honor our paternal bond and celebrate their father on this day…and not because their smart phone is chiming the third reminder to ‘phone Dad today’, lol.
Photo by Tannis Shaw (2012)
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Lawrence Lewis
“True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher.” – John Petit-Senn
About Lawrence Lewis
I do a number of things professionally...but most of all and the true purpose of what I do through "my work" is to provide for my family, be a good husband and great father, and try to make a difference as a world citizen...I guess it's not much more complicated than that 🙂