As we move into June, I’m thinking about Fathers and all the great gifts Dads bring to the feast called Family:

Creator

Two of the most powerful attributes of fatherhood are those of creation and protection.  When we speak of “fathering” something or someone, we’re talking about creating.  Of course a baby seems to be the obvious creation of a parent.  However, as has been said before, its easier to make a baby that raise a baby.  The creator role for a father begins at conception, but great Dads continue the creation process as long as father and child live.

Protector

Ask any Dad and he’ll tell you one of his main jobs, whether he likes it or not, is that of protector.  The role has almost primal roots as fathers feel the need to keep the family safe from all threats.  Dad’s not only pick us up when we fall down, they often teach us how to stand up on our own two feet and if we do fall, how to do so with style and grace.

Explorer

I can’t say that I have a scientific basis for this, but next time you’re out, look to see what position mothers and fathers hold their babies in those front baby carriers.  My informal survey has Moms holding the child facing toward her in a nurturing position, the baby often snuggled in and sleeping peacefully.  The majority of Dads have junior facing out into the world, eyes wide open, just taking it all in.  One of the great gifts Dads give us is permission to get out into the world, take some risks and explore.

Teacher

Dads teach in many ways and most of us begin our lives knowing our Dad is probably the smartest guy on the planet.  Of course, as we reach adolescence we realize that we actually have the knowledge and Dad is a bit of a lump.  However, our Dads endure that time, holding on for the day when ten or twenty or thirty years later, we begin to see the wisdom in his words.

Nurturer

More and more, I see fathers embracing the role of nurturer.  They are taking leaves of absence when their children are born and making time to be with their children as they grow.  When we speak of “mothering,” we’re talking about nurturing.   However, as every father and mother knows, “it takes two to tango.”  The creation and nurturing of our children is not confined to one parent or the other.  And besides, Dads give fantastic hugs!

Let me leave you with a few quotes to ponder as you consider your father and/or your own fatherhood.

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.

~ Mark Twain, Old Times on the Mississippi

One night a father overheard his son pray: Dear God, Make me the kind of man my Daddy is. Later that night, the Father prayed, Dear God, Make me the kind of man my son wants me to be.

~ Anonymous

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Sharon McGee

As we move into May I want to take a moment to honor a group of dedicated, loving, giving, nurturing people — Moms.  None of us would be here without them! When we think of motherhood we often think of child birth.  However, as all you Moms out there already know, the work of a mother only begins with the birth of a child.  All across this planet mothers maintain homes (even when a structure called a “house” doesn’t exist), kiss hurts, listen to fears, thoughts and dreams, hold us in their arms even if we’re thousands of miles away, keep us in their prayers and raise us up with their love.

Of course, Mom’s are human.  Like anyone else they struggle and sometimes falter under whatever burden life may hold.  However, I think we can all learn from motherhood at its best.   A mother’s love:

Knows no bounds. Mom’s love us even when we’ve made mistakes or fail.  That primal connection of love between a mother and a child cannot be easily broken.

Is fierce. You can see the ferocity of motherhood in the natural world as a mother bird will fight to the death for her chicks.  Likewise human mothers have a ferocity of heart deep within that perseveres in the face of great hardship and protects to the very end.

Always hopes for the best. While we might not always agree with Mom’s desires, her intentions always lean to the good.  Imagine a world where each of us sincerely had only the best intentions in our relationships and interactions with others.

Listens to our hearts. Some people say Moms have eyes in the back of their heads!  Why?  Because that love comes from a deep, primal connection with her children.  She can hear not only the words in the present, but the context of those words in that child’s entire life.

Is Patient. Nine months is a long time to await a glorious coming out party!  Mother’s learn patience from the beginning with pregnancy and then as they experience the challenges as their child develops.

The Apostle Paul, in describing love, offered what I think is one of the best descriptions of the ideal of a Mother’s love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 (New International Version)

Whether you are a woman or a man, a mother or not, let’s take the month of May to do two important things.

1. Consider how each of us can bring the attributes of love into our daily living.  How will you be a more loving, caring person going forward?
2. Let’s give thanks for these wonderful, awesome ladies who have given us so much.

Have a great May filled with love,

Sharon McGee