NEWS COMMENTARY LOOKS AT CELEBRATING FATHER’S DAY AS PUBLIC RECOGNITION AND RESPECT TO FATHERS FOR THEIR SILENT, BUT SOLEMN RELEVANCE TO CHILD FORMATION AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.
Father’s day is worth celebrating, notwithstanding its low public recognition and fest, as compared to mother’s day. This might be due to the historical and sociological underpinnings of father’s day. The time has come to delve into the importance and impact of Father’s Day on family development. Historically, the day is fifty-eight years younger than mother’s day, since mother’s day was publicly proclaimed 1914, whereas father’s day was in 1972. The history of father’s day traced to the tradition and culture of the United States of America. There are many stories connected to the origin of father’s day, but the pungent one is that of the American woman, Sonora Smart Dodd, who was among six children raised up by their father after the death of their mother. After listening to a sermon on mother’s day in 1909, Sonora thought of her father, who played the double parental role and care in their upbringing. Sonora, noted that a father figure stands for courage, selflessness and love, that must be recognized, honoured and celebrated. The idea of national day of fathers gained popularity and was finally signed into law by President Richard Nixion in 1972. The third Sunday in June was therefore chosen in recognition of the birth month of the father of Sonora, Smart Dodd.
Anthropologically, fathers mostly command respect, but hardly demand it. For instance, when the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph found him in the temple discussion with the teachers of the law without their consent, Mother Mary commanded and demanded recognition in words as in Luke Chapter 2 Verse 48. Thus, “Child, Why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” The Father, Joseph might have simply looked at him with a command for recognition and respect. It holds true today, that most fathers command recognition with less, few or no words at all, even as providers, protectors and promoters. There are even some cases when the father provides, but the mother takes the glory. It was not for nothing, that Jesus of Nazareth had a foster father who provided for the physical needs, protected him from the wicked hands of King Herod by the flight to Egypt and promoted the name Jesus as the carpenter’s son.
In the year 2000, Gallup Father’s day poll gathered opinions of American youth who agreed that “it is more difficult to be a father today than 20 or 30 years ago”. Meanwhile, some fathers feel underappreciated. The presence of fathers in the formation of children and the growth of families cannot be glossed over. Fathers instill in their children self-esteem, confidence, competence, discipline and compatibility skills. The presence of the father in the family gives a holistic formation to the child for good mental health, that ensures among many, the unlikely occurrences of children involving in behaviour disorders, suicide, rape, substance abuse, truancy and school drop outs. There is a growing culture of children living with mothers only and receiving little fatherly care and influence.
The presence of the father means a lot to children, just as we all cry out to God as “Abba Father.” Since father’s day has come to stay, there is the need to acknowledge the resilient care and love of our fathers and to re-establish intimacy with their children and by extension their wives. There is the need to appreciate the heartfelt feelings of love, expressed in words and offer presents with sincere hands and hearts and put our minds to the gifts we offer fathers. Where ever they may be, let us publicly celebrate them with love. May the lyrics of the Reggae Star, Lucky Dube, linger in the minds of every father, as “Daddy, wherever you are, remember me. In whatever you do I love you.” On the occasion of father’s day, we humbly ask all fathers to fervently pray for their children to find their feet in all their endeavours. Forgiveness and love should also crown the day and beyond. Happy Father’s day to all fathers across the globe.
BY: REV. FR JONAS RICHMOND ATARAH, CATHOLIC PRIEST OF NAVRONGO-BOLGATANGA DIOCESE.
