the wisdom of a father
Only fathers are qualified to give fatherly wisdom, just as the wisdom of mothers is their exclusive domain.
So here is some of what I have to offer.
Parents are not always given the respect they deserve. It isn’t until a man goes through the full journey of fatherhood that he realizes how this will affect him. However, if he wants to, he grows up and the whole family prospers. But if it doesn’t grow, everyone suffers. Parents need to be respected, but more than that, they need to cope when they are not.
Any parent worth his or her role knows that coins are mundane, and then there is the eternal. He is willing to trade all of the first to save as much as he can of the second: his daughter’s heart and soul. But he must accept that he has no control over anything he truly lives to appreciate. Still, he is happy. That only choice is yours.
Parenthood may be the humblest of all human roles. given man’s instant propensity for pride. He knows it’s weakness, but fights to deliver his strength. But, praise God, life will take that earthly strength from him—through parenthood—and give him something no one can take away.
A parent learns the hard way to let go. He has no choice. If he doesn’t choose, that choice will be made for him, and that’s a slap to an already swollen cheek.
God ordains fatherhood in the cycle of man’s life. How else will you achieve the character traits that you were destined to acquire from the very beginning? Any male who is not a father will be called into service as a mentor or surrogate father of some sort. All must suffer the humiliation of leadership or lead an unacceptably sheltered life.
There are all kinds of fathers, but real fathers are kind. His strength is not harsh, and though he may appear weak, he is strongest when it counts. Until then it seems like weakness for anyone with selfishness. The true strength of the father is a complete paradox. It’s never about him alone.
A father knows he’s “made it” when he’s happy to no longer be at the center of his little girl’s world, happy to “give her away” and give her the permission she needs to go her own way.
Some parents need to know these things, some don’t, and some will disagree. That’s how it is. Well let it be.