Remember the fathers who aren’t your own, too
Matt Lamb
This Father’s Day, make sure to remember not just your own father, but all the other males who have played a positive role in your life.
I am eternally grateful for my father and the faith, wisdom, and skills he imparted to me. Now that I have children of my own, I appreciate even more all that he did for us and how much it takes to balance work and family. If I tried to add up all the time he spent on work, family, chores, and coaching us in sports in one week, I think it would somehow add up to more than 168 hours. When he slept, I don’t know.
BIDEN CELEBRATES AFTER WEST COAST DOCKWORKERS AND EMPLOYERS REACH LABOR DEAL
But there are also all the other good male role models I was surrounded with in my life who have been and continue to be a source of inspiration, and there are probably some in your life as well. The most obvious would be uncles, grandfathers, and older cousins or brothers. Then you might remember the parents of your friends or neighbors.
Do not forget the coaches who made an impact on your life. I had many good coaches growing up, and while I never excelled in sports, it is obvious to me that being pushed to put full effort into improving in a sport and not quitting had positive implications in my personal and work life.
I think of my high school cross country coach, a devout Catholic and father of his own children who went the distance to learn everything he could about how to be a better coach. He mixed seriousness in developing practices and coaching us with a sense of “dad humor.”
There are probably coaches or teachers in your own life who made a positive impact. Think about the teacher who spent extra time after school to help you learn a concept or the coach who made sure the least athletic member of the team felt just as welcome and encouraged as the star athlete. It seems clear to me that one way boys especially connect to their fathers and other male role models is through sports and competition. Sports provide an avenue to learn about honesty, hard work, and self-sacrifice in a way boys can relate to.
Maybe you also had a priest or other religious minister who provided crucial guidance or continues to help you live your best life as a single or married person.
Society needs strong men and fathers, yet many children grow up without a father in their house. No one can fully replace a child’s biological father, but a network of virtuous men can play a role in reinforcing what is taught at home — even if it is not deliberate.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Leadership expert John Maxwell popularized the concept that more is “caught than taught.” There are fathers and male role models who were “caught” being honest, being ethical, working hard, and practicing charity by taking care of people in need. They did not always intentionally set out to teach a lesson. However, people, particularly young people, do see what these good men are doing and incorporate it into their own lives.
To the fathers and father figures: Thank you for all you do, whether or not you realize it or intended for others to see.
Matt Lamb is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. He is an associate editor for the College Fix and has previously worked for Students for Life of America and Turning Point USA.