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A Father's Influence

When I hear the word “father,” I think of my own dad, as I imagine most of us do.  I have vivid childhood memories of camping, sports, and yard work, side by side with my dad.  My dad never was overly expressive of emotions, but he did manage in less verbal ways to show very clearly that he loved his children, and continues to do so.  Now that I am a husband and father, I appreciate even more his example and influence, and I notice his influence on me in large and small ways.  As I watch my dad casually interacting with a neighbor, I will often notice a familiar idiosyncrasy and realize that I got it from him. 

My fond memories and close relationship with my dad have had a profound impact on my relationship with God.  “Our Father…”  “Heavenly Father…”  “Almighty God and Father…”  For better or worse, the associations we have with our earthly fathers color the ways in which we view our Heavenly Father simply because of our associations with the word “father.”  My positive relationship with my dad and my comfort with his nonverbal communication makes it easier for me to view God the Father positively and to feel comfortable with His nonverbal responses to my prayers—this is a great grace in my life since God doesn’t usually open up the skies and speak to me in a booming voice!  My father affects my relationship with my Father. 

This phenomenon is part of what the Church means when she says, “The role of parents in [religious] education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, par. 2221).  Whether or not we are aware of it, we as parents—fathers especially—are constantly educating our children about God.  The question for all of us to ponder is what exactly are we teaching our children about God? 

With that being said, no earthly father is perfect; he can’t be.  When we found out that the baby in Natalie’s womb was a little girl, I read a fantastic book by Dr. Meg Meeker called “Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know.”  I would recommend this book to any dad with a daughter.  I distinctly remember reading a section of statistics about a father’s influence on his daughter and thinking, “O my goodness; I can really mess up this kid.”  Being a parent is a daunting task; I am just beginning to experience the reality of that statement.  However, the immensity of the task must not cause us to forget the incredible potential for good that we have as parents and as fathers. 

This Father’s Day, let’s remember to look to the example of perfect Fatherhood to find inspiration for our great task.  “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:14-16). 

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