Naturally, on Father's Day, I always think about my own daddy. He was a stern man and not outwardly affectionate, but he was a good provider for his family and was always there for us. He instilled within me some of my strongest values.
I learned three things from him that I will take to my grave: the value of a work ethic, the value of an education, and the value of reading. I feel as strongly about each of these as he did.
First, he taught me about working. He worked hard all of his life, and with the same company, and never missed a day of work. He was adamant about giving an honest day's work for an honest wage and had no respect for goof-offs or lazy folks that wouldn't work. I have inherited that attitude, too, I am proud to say.
Second, he expected me to get a college education and talked about it all of my life. So after high school I did as I was expected...I went to college and earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree. To disappoint him was unthinkable!
Third, he taught me that reading was the greatest ability that one could have and the most pleasant pastime. In whatever spare time that he had, he was usually reading something and he never went to bed without reading the daily newspaper. He had to keep up with world affairs and did so through the daily paper, which was more important to him than televised news was. To this day, I am just like he was. I have a book going in every room of the house and without fail I read the daily paper.
Another man that I highly respect for his ability as a father is Truett. He has taken an active role in our children's lives from the day that they were born. During that rough first year when they were both developing their sleep habits, he got up with them every time that I did. One of us would change a diaper while the other one would get the baby's bottle. Once when I was totally exhausted from teaching school and being a parent and wife, I just could not get up with Rhett, who was suffering from a cold. Truett let me sleep, while he sat up all night with Rhett and held him up on his chest so that the little fellow could breathe easier and perhaps sleep better. Only another mother could understand how much that meant to me!
Truett has helped the children with their homework, gone to every ball game or school activity (even when he often had to go back to work afterwards), and always talked to them to explain situations in life that they had come up against. Even today they still call him for his advice.
The one thing, though, that makes me proudest of Truett for is his ability to let them know that they are loved. They know that he truly cares and would move heaven and earth for them. Either one would tell the world that he has always been their cheerleader and their biggest champion.
Rhett has learned from the examples that his dad set, for he, too, is proving to be just the kind of father to our grandson that we had hoped that he would be. He has gotten up with Jaxson for those nightly feedings, alternating turns with wife Lisa, and, unlike some men, he was never refused to change a diaper. He was often taken the boy for a whole afternoon to the park, to a movie, to the mall, or on another outing while Lisa has some time to herself. I am certain that as Jaxson gets older, Rhett will stay close to him to guide him on into adulthood and will always be there for him, just as Truett has been for him.
The last man that I would like to mention here whose parenting skills I have been impressed with is my neighbor, Bryan Nichols. Truett and I both have watched Bryan since young Bryce, now 7, was born and have been amazed at how that young man "took" to being a daddy. Many afternoons we saw him out pushing Bryce in a stroller and, as Bryce got a little older, playing with him in the yard. Now that Bryce's little sister has come along, Bryan gives her equal time and attention. He is definitely one dad who cares about his children and isn't shy about showing it.
Just recently Bryce and his playmate, Logan, were playing in our yard with our dog. Listening to their conversation as they played, I could not help but notice how often Bryce referred to his daddy and always started his sentences with "My daddy..." I could definitely tell that his daddy has already had a huge influence in his young life and that Bryce was proud of what he was telling Logan each time that he said, "My daddy."
I know that there are lots of fathers just like the ones that I have described above and they all deserve accolades, not only this Sunday but every day. Fathers have a most important role in life, especially in the lives of their children, and that role carries with it an awesome responsibility. I urge each father to always be there for their children, teach them right from wrong, set them a good example, and leave them with some powerful memories. Happy Father's Day to all fathers!
Before I close, I would like to share with you a funny incident that happened at Macon Department Store recently. Mel and Wardean Perdue were there shopping. After concluding their business, they were talking to owner Terry Hudson about women, marriage, etc. Wardean said, "After God made man, he then made woe-man (woman)." Mel replied, "Yes, but after God made man, he took a look at him and said, "I can do better than that. Then he made woman."
Way to go, Mel! You get a 100 points for that one!
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