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Welcome to familywisdom.com, a website dedicated to informing and inspiring couples and families. Each week you will find a new article, story or essay about parenting, marriage or life. Suggestions for articles and questions to Ellen Terich are welcome. You can contact her at e.terich1@verizon.net |
A TRIBUTE TO FATHERS 2002-06-11 From time to time elementary school teachers will give their students an assignment to write about heroes. Young children often tell of their admiration for sports stars, Spiderman, Superman or other fictional characters. A few fortunate and astute youngsters will write about a parent. Today, exactly nine months after September 11th and just a few days before Father's Day, there are many children who will not spend Father's Day with their dads because their dads were among the many heroes who died on that terrible day. The firefighters, the police officers, the pilots, the passengers who challenged the hijackers and even the businessmen - who, as they faced imminent death, made courageous phone calls to say good-bye - were all heroes. And while the loss of all of these good men is terribly sad, their children can point with pride to the fact that they were doing those things that a father is supposed to do: acting bravely, doing the right thing and being a good role model for his children. At a time when boys observe too much greed, drug abuse, and violence on television as well as in their own neighborhoods, and so may be confused about what it is to be a man, these men were shining examples. We sometimes forget how very important fathers are to children. They are the ones who teach their sons to be strong, yet gentlemanly. They show their boys how to treat women by the way they behave towards their wives. They are role models not only in the careers they choose but also in the language they use and in their behavior towards friends and family. It has been said that the best measure of a society is how it treats its youngest and most vulnerable and this is also true for fathers. Fathers who protect their children when they need protection, but who also gently lead them to be brave and develop a sense of adventure are doing a good job at fathering. While most people would agree that young boys need fatherly influence, it is also true that fathers have a profound influence on their daughters. A father provides his daughter with the model for the type of man she will choose to marry. Young women who have honest, loving and attentive fathers will tend to marry honest, loving and attentive men. On the other hand, young women whose fathers abandon or ignore them will have a difficult time knowing what to look for in a man and may be easily fooled by superficial charm. Perhaps the most important things fathers teach their children, however, are values. The lessons a father instills in his children about kindness, honesty, dignity and courage are the greatest gifts he gives to them. Those are the gifts that the heroes of September 11th are still giving to their children. And though we feel a special sadness this Father's Day for the families who will not have their fathers with them, we and their children will always know what wonderful fathers these men were. Happy Father's Day to all of you who act with courage, honesty and kindness as you provide and care for your families. We love and appreciate you more than you know! CHECK OUT OTHER ARTICLES AND STORIES. CLICK ON "ARCHIVES" AND MAKE YOUR SELECTION. |