Well, I won it again this year. I was honored once again as “Father of the Year” by my three children. There was nothing official of course, just three grown children thanking me for being their father and showing appreciation for what that all means.

But I was also reminded of a conversation I had with a woman who had placed her young children under my care when I used to coach swimming many years ago. At that time, I was all of 20 and she was probably 30. She had two young sons who would eventually become honorable men and wonderful fathers themselves. She and her husband were putting out the effort to make that so, and they were eventually successful.

As a coach, it was more than my job to teach them to swim.  It was also my job to teach them how to work hard, how to honor their parents, how to have pride in their work, how not to cheat, and so much more. She expected that of me and I was there to deliver. She is now a patient of mine and we both covet that mutual relationship.  

I heard her expound one day that “Anyone can “father” offspring, even a dog.” She recognized that it took far more to become a real father in the honorable sense of the word. It takes tough love, hard work, lots of prayer, endless sacrifice, and much, much more. I hope that I have done and am doing just that. I hope your father is too. Happy father’s day.