Father’s Day is a day of honouring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Fathers are celebrated on Saint Joseph’s Day, commonly called the Feast of Saint Joseph, March 19.
However, in certain countries, Father’s Day has become a secular celebration. It is also common for Catholics to honour their “spiritual father,” their parish priest, on Father’s Day.
In America, Father’s Day was founded by Sonora Smart Dodd and celebrated on the third Sunday of June for the first time in 1910.
It is held on various days in many parts of the world throughout the year, often in March, May and June.
On Father’s Day, much of the world takes the time to appreciate the work of good fathers. Fathers who are present in the lives of their children make all the difference in a child’s life.
They are a pillar of strength, support and discipline. Fathers are central to the emotional well-being of their children; they are capable caretakers and disciplinarians.
The work of a father is endless and, often, thankless. But in the end, it shows in the sound, well-adjusted children he raises. This is the true legacy of a father: ensuring the health and well-being of your children, that future generation to be.
While almost any man can father a child, there is so much more to the critical role of being a dad in a child’s life.
As I celebrate all the fathers, allow me to remind both the fathers and fathers to be that fathers are expected to lead. I celebrate my late father for demonstrating leadership which is synonymous to fatherhood in the following ways:
1. Fatherhood is about embracing your responsibility, and so is leadership.
Fatherhood changes a man. It can be a source of pride and maturity or a source of shame and regret. You simply cannot be called a father, and yet you take no responsibility.
Taking responsibility comes with many legal, psychological, and financial costs and benefits. In the same breath, you cannot claim to be a leader who is not responsible for the people and the institution you have been entrusted to lead.
We have so many irresponsible fathers in the same way we have irresponsible leaders.
2. Model the way, lead and set the example
Fathers model what it means to be adult and male. Children learn by observing and observing you they do every minute. They are taking in how you treat others, how you manage stress and frustrations, how you fulfill your obligations, and whether you carry yourself with dignity.
Consciously or not, the boys will become like you. The girls will look for a man very much like you. Give them an idea of manhood (and relationships) you can be proud of.
A good father ought to live by the values he wants his children to follow. In any organisation, those led are always looking for a leader who will inspire them by modelling what they expect of their follows. As a leader, lead the way and make it easier for others to follow.
3. Fathers care & provide
Children need care and a loving relationship with the father. They need whatever financial support you can afford. They need predictability. A good father will do whatever he can for his family. This is how a father instills in his children the importance of personal sacrifice.
Leaders are expected to care and provide for the people they lead. Leadership is not about the leader. When those you lead see you set an example of sacrifice, they will follow your good example.
The biggest challenge we have is that we have many leaders who ask those who they lead to do what they say but not what they do.
4. Fathers serve their family and community with no expectations for appreciation or reward.
As said earlier, the work of a father may be endless and thankless. A good father molds his children into well-rounded members of society. He especially instructs them in proper etiquette, on being honest and keeping their word, and on being thankful.
A great father knows he must sacrifice his comfort for his fatherly duties. Leaders are servants of the institutions they are responsible for. They are the chief servants and they ought to be so.
5. Fathers allow children to make mistakes
A good father realises that his children are human and that making mistakes is part of growing up. Wasting money, getting into minor car accidents, getting drunk and sick for the first time, even going on dates with questionable people are rites of passage, and a good father recognises this.
However, he makes it clear that repeated irresponsibility won’t be tolerated. Good leaders allow those led to make mistakes as long as they learn from them.
There may be very little agreement about how an “ideal father” should behave or look like. What matters to the children is for fathers to be committed to them and involved with them over time.
When fathers take that responsibility seriously, their children are more likely to do well, and the fathers have few regrets. It is important to recognise and reward dads for being there and actively teaching important life skills to children.
It is important to their children, and meaningful to dads everywhere when you say “Thank you, job well done.” This, after all, is what makes life worth living.
As we celebrate the good dads out there, let’s also celebrate the good leaders who demonstrate good leadership out there.
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