Although we are busy with our lives, we need to stop and take time to pay tribute to our fathers. Sometimes we get
swallowed up in our everyday chores and don't realize that time is passing quickly. How long has it been since you
went fishing with your dad or played a round of golf or shot some hoops with him? Or maybe you never have had
the chance to have a one on one trip out with your father. It can never be too soon to start but it can be too late.
We never know when our lives will be cut short and we never had the chance to really get to know our fathers and
never had the chance to have that one more father/son or father/daughter special time together.
Our fathers play a very important role in our lives and for those of us who get the chance to see it are very fortunate.
Many never get to be with their fathers at all and many do not even know who or where their fathers are. We should
not take our fathers for granted because there are many out there who would give their lives just to get a chance to
meet their fathers for the first time. If you know where your father is, you need to share some quality time with him
every chance you get. If there are bad blood between you it might be a good idea to try to make an effort to mend
some fences with him. Someone has to make the first move, why not let it be you. Some of us have fathers who have
passed away and we miss them very much. Savor the time you have with them because we never know when they will
be taken from us. Then there will never be another chance to forgive and forget.
Sometimes you may realize it wasn't
worth being apart after all. Time heals and lessens the hurt.
I remember my father working very hard when I was growing up and I never saw him much. If I did, he was working
in the garden and doing other chores around the house. We had a large family and lived on a farm so there was always
chores to do. Dad and mom taught us many many things about life and responsibilities. But in spite of the hardships we
endured, we had a connection that only comes from love and affection. Hard work was no stranger to us.
Dad loved to hunt and fish too so we had plenty of meat and fish to eat along with the home grown vegetables and fruits.
We had many Sunday dinners with other family members who dropped by. I sure remember the fresh fried chicken with
mashed potatoes and gravy, along with corn on the cob fresh from the garden, homemade rolls and fresh strawberry
shortcake.
It just makes my mouth water now just to think about it. And believe me, we did appreciate it because many
times in the winter when times were hard, sometimes the only thing we had was crackers and comodity cheese for dinner.
But we didn't blame anyone. Farming was hard work and paid very little so we had to stretch what we had. We all grew
up healthy in spite of it all so I guess it didn't hurt us a bit.
Fatherhood has changed since many of us were young. Fathers used to be the heads of household but now in many
families it is more of an equal responsibility between the father and mother because it takes both to work to make a living.
Therefore both share in the chores at home.
Some are even stay at home dads which is to be commended. It is not easy
staying home and keeping the homefront running smoothly. I can't imagine my dad ever being a stay at home dad. He was
too much of an outdoors type. He definitely would not have fit well in the kitchen. Somehow I just can not imagine him with
an apron on. I don't think he would ever touch or change a diaper either. But that is ok, that is just the way it was then and
everyone accepted it. He was the breadwinner in the family. In todays society it either takes both parents to be the
breadwinner or sometimes the mother works and the father stays home with the children.There are also more and more
fathers working at home on the internet which makes it convenient to take care of everything on the homefront and help
make a living.
There are more and more single dads in our society today. That means the whole load falls on them and they have to be
the breadwinner and keep the homefires burning. This can take its toll on them but they keep trudging along because they
love their children and want the best for them. I say hats off to all of the single dads out there. You should get a trophy for
your persistence in keeping the family together without the mother. It takes a special breed to do what you are doing.
If you are blessed to still have your father near, cherish the time you have left with him. One never knows when he will
be taken from you and you will not have the chance to once again tell him that you love him or to give him a big hug. I
haven't had a chance to hug mine for quite a few years now because I lost him one cold day in March. It was a day that
is forever etched in my mind and I will never forget it. But he knew I loved him and I am so glad we had that type of
relationship. So many times some people get caught up in their own lives and they forget that there is someone who
would love to talk to them or spend some time with them.
If you can, take a little time out of your busy schedule and give your dad a call to let him know just how much you care. If
you have trouble saying the words, tell him with a gesture of some kind. You probably know what his favorite hobbies are,
spend a few hours with him just to let him know you care.
