With Father’s Day this Sunday, I wanted to send a special message out to all those men who are fathers – past and present. For me, this time of year is bitter-sweet as my own father passed away in 2011.
A gentle man and a gentleman, as everyone who knew him always said, he influenced me in ways that I am only now beginning to fully understand. And one of his greatest gifts to our family was his deep and abiding love for my mother.
As children, we knew we were loved, but we also knew my mom came first in my father’s eyes. Now that may seem odd to some or even appear to be selfish on his part. But my dad understood that the strength of the family came from the strong foundation of the parents and the modelling of affection and respect that they showed for their children. That gave us great security and taught us what real love looked like. It was kind and it was gentle.
