Dear Editor,
On Sunday June 21, we here and elsewhere celebrated Father’s Day, a day set aside to honour and remember, all be it many different experiences, our fathers. In Guyana many of us, and I underscore “us”, have failed and faltered in the execution of fatherhood. Fatherhood is the lynchpin for the development of a wholesome and viable society. Fatherhood must be a daily, 24-hour, constant exercise, and I hope and pray that this message sent me by a friend, influences fathers everywhere;
“Today we honour the pillars of our homes, our fathers, to every good father, Happy Father’s Day, and to every man carrying the burden of fatherhood, may your strength never fail. In Africa we say a child may outgrow a father’s lap, but never his heart. Our father is not just the man who gave life. A father is the man who gives direction. He is the roof when storms come, he is the wall when danger approaches. A father’s wealth is not in his pocket, but in the character of his children. Today, let us understand the true meaning of “father” letter by letter:
F – stands for Foundation, a father is the foundation of a home. If the foundation shakes the house trembles. The tree stands tall because its roots are deep. A father is the root of the family tree. His values become the roots of his children, without a strong foundation a home cannot stand.
A – stands for Authority with love, a true father leads with authority, but not with fear. The Shepherd does not beat the sheep to lead them, he guides them. A father must lead with discipline, but also with compassion, children should respect their father, not fear him.
T – stands for Teacher. A father is the first teacher of life. He teaches by words, but more importantly by example, what the child sees at home he repeats in the marketplace. If a father lies, his children learn lies, if he shows integrity, his children learn honour.
H – stands for Hard work. A father must model hard work; “no man eats roasted yam without first touching fire”, provision is part of fatherhood. A father teaches his children that nothing good comes without labour.
E – stands for encourager. A father must be an encourager. Many grown adults are still waiting to hear; I am proud of you. Rain helps the seed grow, but words help the child grow, your children need your words. Tell them they can do it. Speak life into them.
R – stands for responsibility, the final letter is responsibility. A father takes responsibility not only for bills, but for peace, for protection and for presence. “The man who carries the roof must not sleep while it leaks.” The Father cannot abandon his home and still expect honour. Responsibility is the crown of fatherhood. Being a father is not biology, it is responsibility, it is sacrifice, it is legacy. Any man can produce a child, but not every man becomes a father.
A true father leaves footprints his children are proud to follow. “When an old man dies, a library burns.” That is why fathers must pass down wisdom, not just property. To every father, your family needs your love, your leadership, your presence, be the father your children will remember with pride. And to every child, honour your father while he’s still alive, because one day you may miss the voice you once ignored.”
Guyanese men everywhere take heed, so that you can help to make Guyana good and great.