A tribute to all the fathers on the face of the earth

Bienhome Muivah *

Although we may have differences due to different races, nations, and cultures but inherently Fathers are the same everywhere because they possess the same key ingredients of love, sacrifice and forgiveness. And that qualify them to be called Fathers.

On this auspicious day, I believe each one of you must be charged with an intense emotion because the love, affection and inexpressible sacrifice of the father is brought back right in front of us so vividly.

You may wonder at times who is this man who has sacrificed so much for me? I want to say, Isn't he the representative of God because he resembles so much in many ways like that of the Father in Heaven? Whoever has the opportunity of having a Father/a fatherly figure in his/her life time is the most blessed one because it means so much to a person's "inside as well as the outside world".

I am deeply convinced with the statement that "No man is poor who has a godly father". This, I believe is absolutely true. Father is the role model of the children and an open book for the children to read. As the saying says, "Action speaks louder than words", a father doesn't need to be too preachy, talking at length will only make the children bored and tired, thereby results in distancing themselves further and further from the father

A father needs to show what he wants his children to do and to become through his actions. It is utterly harmful to preach what the father cannot do because there are possibilities of children having severe disillusionment throughout his life time just because his hero has failed him/fall short of his children's expectations.

To the children, fathers are the biggest source of strength. The innocent eyes of a child receive father as the all-powerful and the most important person in the family. During my childhood, when I experienced fear, I ran to my father for security and protection. And today, my only daughter does the same. For my daughter, I am the strongest and the most knowledgeable person in her little world because for her I am the first man she adores and fall in love with. While for sons their fathers are the most powerful/capable of doing anything because he knows everything and someone they aspire to emulate.

Father is a protector, a guide and a strict disciplinarian with loving and the most affectionate heart. When a child becomes wayward, the father's heart breaks into smithereens although he looks tough and rough on the surface. He exhibits what is called 'Tough Love' because he love s his children so much and he does this, just to bring back from the wrong path.

A father tirelessly puts his concerted efforts by way of spending his time, money and energy to educate. He teaches and shows them the "Road to success". He considers his child's success as his own success and pain as his own pain. Father goes through an intense hardship and pain in order to give his children a life of ease and comfort and not on any condition but unconditionally.

Isn't the unconditional love and supreme sacrifice of a father reflects the love of God for mankind?

The Bible says "God loves the world so much that He gave His only begotten son" (John 3:16).

God went to the extent of sacrificing His only son for you and for me. This is indeed the "Love of the first degree". Surely, the love of an earthly father for his children comes so close to the love of God in part.

Father never wants to hurt his children so as he never ever give a slightest hint to let the children know how hard he works to take care of the needs and fulfill even the most whimsicalof demands … For all their adorable scolding and affectionate punishments we all owe a huge thanks to our Dads.

Father's Day offers us the wonderful opportunity to show our love and also apologies for all our rude and insensitive attitude towards our father. We as children often take the love and affection of our parents for granted and treats them with outright contempt/disrespect. This is an opportunity for each one of us to say "I am Sorry".

This is one great lesson we should learn on this day not to take their love, sacrifice and understanding for granted. Next to the love of God, father ranks second. He is such a great stoic who bear both pain and joy in the same intensity for he turns our pain into pleasure and sadness into joy. What is the Reason? "Love is the only reason".

How do you all feel today?

I believe we must feel great to have the presence of a loving father in our lives. For those who doesn't have the father physically, the never-changing and fond memories are always with you. It's worth it friends! Each moment with your father should be counted as "Golden Moment" after all one day he will be gone so let's cherish his presence while he is here because he is a gift from God and no exorbitant amount of money can purchase him. So, what we do for such a valuable treasure on this day? For this awesome figure that we call Father, it becomes our utmost duty to pay our loving tributes on the occasion of Father's Day.

Let us show our fathers how much we owe them and how much he is loved and appreciated. It is very appropriate to show on this day but it should be a life-time process. For those who have nothing to present him on this day, just a smile with a thankful heart and listening ears will be enough to make him happy. Love him to the utmost, share every bit of your secrets because he is the only who is deeply interested in you.

Happy Father's Day!