We honor the fathers who are there, not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, through prayer.
Even from conception, you came into our lives. You came with hope, faith, and a great sense of responsibility. You are parents who stood up as protectors and partners. Praying for lives yet unborn and preparing yourselves for a journey that needed strength, patience, and love.
You walked children into school gates, asked how their day went, helped them with homework, attended parent-teacher meetings. You corrected with insight. Lauded each achievement, no matter how small. You were there all the way, through the childhood years.
Through adolescence and into adulthood, you have been there. You have never stopped listening, counseling, encouraging, releasing when needed. But never withdrawing your affection. You have exemplified integrity, strength, commitment, and compassion throughout my life when I needed all of those qualities. And more in role models, especially from my parents whom I have been blessed to have had as guides throughout my life.
Into manhood, you have been there!!
We would like to especially recognize fathers like yours who care for children with special needs with such love and devotion. “Your journey entails a level of patience, advocacy, sacrifice, and strength that others may not,” because it’s on this journey that “you learn, adapt, defend, and celebrate progress that the world may overlook.” There is “love that is purposeful, commitment that is unswerving, and prayers that are abiding.”
So today, we thank the fathers who are there to stay. Those who love loudly and those who love quietly. Those who provide, protect, nurture, and pray.
Your children are stronger because you are in the room. Your legacy is the story of lives given love. We see you. We honour you. We celebrate you.
