As I took to the quite streets of my neighbourhood at 5.30 a.m on Tuesday to
lose a few calories, I came across two children dressed in their school
uniform sitting on the lap of a middle-age man at the
ABC
Junction.
The picture conjured an image of a father and kids waiting anxiously
for a vehicle to beat Achimota’s notorious rush hour traffic.
With a growing concern about irresponsible fathers who leave the
entire upbringing of their children on mothers, I had a smile on my
face. After all, there are still good fathers out there.
Fathers’ day is tomorrow but if my guess is right, many fathers are
not expectant of a fanfare. While men may not seem to be sentimental,
some fathers think that the day reserved to honour them is not given
the same attention as Mother's Day.
It seems as if Father's Day is not important and only when children
turn out to be bad and corrective measures need to be taken is when
there is attention on the home and role of the father is remembered.
Rightly so, there is every reason to honour mothers but the fact
remains that there are millions of fathers out there who will sell
their kidneys for pittance just to put a smile on the faces of their
children.
Rather sadly, my father shed the mortal coil when I was just 10 years
old but memories of what he represented lingers on. Although he never
buys toys, no great achievement in school or home went without a story
book as a reward.
He had his faults and weaknesses as every father would but his
influence and care was radiating and overwhelming. What my young mind
then deemed his weakness and fault was rather disciplinary pillars
that I lean on today.
There are probably children out there who are cursing their fathers
for acts of irresponsibility, negligence, callousness among other
things.
To such fathers, let tomorrow be a day to turn your heart towards your
home and family. Of what use is it if a child bears your name yet
cannot be proud of you?
And to children hurting out there because of the irresponsibility of
their fathers, take heart and forgive them as in the words of
…forgiveness is the fragrance on the heel that crushed it.
I’m not a father yet, but I hope to be a good one someday---one that
my teenage daughter would be quick to tell me about the neighbour’s
son pursuing her with zeal or my teenage son being confident enough
to talk about sex with me. What about you?
Happy Fathers’ Day to all fathers and potential fathers, may God grant
you the grace to be worthy of praise and honour.
Junction.
The picture conjured an image of a father and kids waiting anxiously
for a vehicle to beat Achimota’s notorious rush hour traffic.
With a growing concern about irresponsible fathers who leave the
entire upbringing of their children on mothers, I had a smile on my
face. After all, there are still good fathers out there.
Fathers’ day is tomorrow but if my guess is right, many fathers are
not expectant of a fanfare. While men may not seem to be sentimental,
some fathers think that the day reserved to honour them is not given
the same attention as Mother's Day.
It seems as if Father's Day is not important and only when children
turn out to be bad and corrective measures need to be taken is when
there is attention on the home and role of the father is remembered.
Rightly so, there is every reason to honour mothers but the fact
remains that there are millions of fathers out there who will sell
their kidneys for pittance just to put a smile on the faces of their
children.
Rather sadly, my father shed the mortal coil when I was just 10 years
old but memories of what he represented lingers on. Although he never
buys toys, no great achievement in school or home went without a story
book as a reward.
He had his faults and weaknesses as every father would but his
influence and care was radiating and overwhelming. What my young mind
then deemed his weakness and fault was rather disciplinary pillars
that I lean on today.
There are probably children out there who are cursing their fathers
for acts of irresponsibility, negligence, callousness among other
things.
To such fathers, let tomorrow be a day to turn your heart towards your
home and family. Of what use is it if a child bears your name yet
cannot be proud of you?
And to children hurting out there because of the irresponsibility of
their fathers, take heart and forgive them as in the words of
…forgiveness is the fragrance on the heel that crushed it.
I’m not a father yet, but I hope to be a good one someday---one that
my teenage daughter would be quick to tell me about the neighbour’s
son pursuing her with zeal or my teenage son being confident enough
to talk about sex with me. What about you?
Happy Fathers’ Day to all fathers and potential fathers, may God grant
you the grace to be worthy of praise and honour.
