It Isn’t Mother’s Day for Guys

Mother’s Day became a national holiday 58 years before Father’s day became an officially recognized holiday in 1972. And, I remember Mother’s Days past more than I remember Father’s Days. But, that may be more a family thing.

For most of my life, my dad celebrated Father’s Days with my brothers – going on weekend hiking trips or fishing or something else I wasn’t, by reason of my gender, included in. I remember that our church had organized father-son hiking trips and I even remember hearing talk about a father-daughter trip (with a much shorter hike), but I never went on one. I had three older brothers to compete for my dad’s time and attention.

I’ve thought about my dad a lot lately, though. He’s going to be 73 years old next month. I’m glad he’s still around and living close by.

He’s a good man and he has always been a good role model to my siblings and me. He worked hard. He went to work even when he didn’t feel like it. His work ethic is something I learned from him, and it’s an important value to me. When I have students who miss class, I tell them this: I’ve earned five college degrees and I never missed a lecture. Even the day I had a miscarriage, I still went to class. I don’t call in sick for work, either. In fact, most of winter term this year, I was pretty much lecturing in a flu-like fog. I was miserable and in intense pain many days, but not showing up was never an option. I fulfill my commitments. It’s a value I learned from my dad.

The other day, I wasn’t feeling well and I called my dad and asked him to bring me some Advil. Ten minutes later, he was letting himself in, with a cold bottle of water in one hand and Advil in the other. He does things like that for me and my children all the time. He’s my superhero. I’m sorry to break it to you, but my dad’s the greatest dad of all.

Far too many men these days abandon their responsibilities and their children. We need to recognize the real men who step up to the plate, every day choosing to do what’s right. Happy Father’s Day to all the men out there who work hard and sacrifice to support their families.

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

1 Timothy 5:8

I: Industrious

I’ve had some jobs that I really hated, for various reasons – mostly boredom. In every one of these jobs, I posted this on the wall above my desk:

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men

Colossians 3:23

It’s not easy to go to work when you have to do something you dislike, or work with people who are obnoxious, or sit a desk and look busy when there is not enough work to do. I am blessed to have meaningful and rewarding work to do, but not everything I do is exciting, important, or fulfilling. In fact, most of the activities that fill my days are mundane, tedious, and frustrating.

Some of the things I do that I find fulfilling are the following: reading and playing with my children; writing and teaching.

Some of the mundane things I spend most of my time doing include: cleaning, grading, and planning.

But I am a happy person, and industrious. I work hard, though I have to admit, I put more effort into the first list than the second.

We are told to work hard always, in whatever task or job we find ourselves in. I was raised in a home where my parents modeled hard work and taught us to work by enforcing chores. I am grateful for the work ethic that was instilled from my early life.

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What is the worst job you’ve had? How did you cope? What is the most unpleasant task you have to complete in your current life?