It would be easy -- and fun -- to treat Father’s Day as an occasion for anyone who has slipped one past the goalie to kick back and relax and expect other people to do stuff for you.
But Father’s Day perhaps is something slightly more important than that. It’s an occasion for every man who is a father, in any way, to remember his obligations to those who rely on him.
Whether it’s taking care of and providing strong leadership for his family or whether it’s setting the right example for members of his extended family or whether it’s mentoring children and others to whom he has no biological or marital connection, every father has a web of duties to act and to speak in a way that provides a solid foundation for the young men and women who eventually will be the fathers and mothers.
That doesn’t mean it’s a time to feel guilty for any mistakes of the past. It’s a time to be inspired for the present and the future, and to become keenly aware every day of the impact that we have on those around us, whether we previously realized it or not.
And if it takes a beer (or two) or a burger (or three) to help cement that message, have at it. But Father’s Day isn’t a time to be a pampered passenger on a cruise ship. It’s time to appreciate and accept that you’re the captain, and that you always need to behave accordingly.
My behavior at this point will include shutting up, right after I wish every man out there a Happy Father’s Day.