Happy Fathers Day

Australians will celebrate Fathers Day tomorrow in many different ways. Kids everywhere will burn toast in the quest to show Dad just how much he means to them. My two youngest children have been scheming for last couple of weeks, hiding presents and whispering to mum and telling me not to listen. I am looking forward to the phone calls from my other three who have already left the nest. Fathers Day is a big day for me and my family.

Those of you who are reading this will either be a father, have a father or know someone who is a father. Fathers are everywhere! I am also well aware that for some people Fathers Day is a sad reminder of times past and my heart goes out to you. My Dad went to be with the Lord in 2000 and I still miss him every year.

We live amidst a fatherlessness epidemic. Millions of kids live without their dad in their lives, whether he lives with them or not. We need to do what we can do to turn the tide and it all starts with becoming better equipped to be a father ourselves. To role model positive attitudes and behaviours to our future fathers. To draw a line in the sand, moving on from past hurts and failures and having a go!

Fathers Day is a celebration of the beautiful gift we have been given, Fatherhood. The daunting yet rewarding responsibility to model our children into adulthood. Sounds scary and it is!

I want to encourage dads to give themselves a break. Being a dad in todays world is one of the toughest gigs going around. If you are having a go, well done! If you feel overwhelmed, like I sometimes do, get some help! If you no longer get to be a dad to your kids through separation or divorce, pray for your kids everyday! Stop trying to be the perfect Dad, we never will be. Even the Bible says to “aim for perfection”. It doesn’t say anywhere that we will achieve it. I have messed it up so many times with my kids and after 24 years of being a dad I am still learning every day.

If you are reading this post and you are a dad who is feeling overwhelmed, a mum who hasn’t got a dad for her kids or a kid who struggles with understanding their dad; take heart, there is help out there. Drop me a reply with your story and I will connect you with someone in your area who can help.

Happy Fathers Day!

Cheers

Grant Herbert
The People Builder