Last Sunday, June 19, 2022, was a historical day observed as Father’s Day all over the world. The celebration is a reflection of what fathers have contributed to the development of the family and its individual members, especially the wives and the children.
It is also a day, when fathers worldwide are honoured for their contributions to the upkeep of the family and as well to distinguish fathers who are single parents. It is a day when the relevance of fatherhood and paternal bond of the man, known as the pillar of the family, is well appreciated.
The day is celebrated internationally around the 3rdSunday in the month of June. For the year 2022, it falls on Sunday, June 19, 2022. As we celebrate the 2022 father’s day, it is imperative to note that, it is a day to celebrate the man whose influence in our individual lives cannot be measured. This man doesn’t have to be your biological father, it could be a man you is perceive as a father figure or mentor in your life.
Though, various accounts have been given on the origin of the father’s day but an account that seems most widely accepted is that Father’s Day first came to Mrs. John Dodd as she sat listening to a mother’s day sermon in 1909. Her father William Smart had raised his six children alone on his farm in Washington after his wife died giving birth to the sixth child. Mrs. Dodd proposed to the Spokane Ministerial Association and the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA) that they celebrate a “Father’s Day”.
She chose June 5, because it was her father’s birthday, but the good ministers of Spokane asked that the day be changed to give them extra time to prepare sermons on the unexplored subject of father’s and incidentally third Sunday in the month of June was chosen to celebrate it every year. Accordingly, Father’s Day celebration was first observed in Washington in 1910 then South African, Britain, among others.
It could also be added that in 1972 President Richard Nixon signed a law declaring that Father’s Day be celebrated yearly on the third Sunday in June. Interestingly, this year’s celebration fell today, June 19 and is being celebrated in the Anglican Church world over. At this celebration, it is in honour of our father’s, therefore, their wives and children are to accord them such honour and respect, as they deserve.
The importance of fatherhood in the family, society, and the nation can never be over-emphasised. As heads of their various homes, fathers would continue to chart the right way for their family to thread. Aside from providing for the needs of his immediate family, any responsible father should be able to defend his family from any form of aggression and danger.
It is also reasonable to note that care and love from wives and children will go a long way in adding joy and elongating the lives of fathers.
On how the fathers have fared in Nigeria’s decaying socio-economic circumstances, some men when faced with challenges resort to crime instead of seeking the wisdom of God. They rather resort to pitiable and immoral actions and reactions. Cases abound in the country where fathers engage in shameful and unimaginable activities, unworthy of a father.
Despite the breakdown in the value system in our country presently, there are still some fathers who are living in dignity and concern for their families and humanity in general. The role of a good father deserving an honour in today’s society is to create in his children, morals that would guide them into becoming great minds that would add value to the society. A great father is one that will resolve before God to take full responsibility for himself, his wife and his children.
In the present day society, there is an unhealthy rise in social vices among youths that can be traced to fathers’ absence in the training of their children right from infancy. As a result of this, many women have been made to become single mothers and solely nurturing their children which unhealthy because it takes both parental attention to bring up properly.
Sincerely, a father should be a shoulder upon which every member of the family should run to. We, therefore, pray that fathers will live in accordance with the purpose of God for all fathers.
Happy Father’s Day to you all fathers.
