A father’s vocation is to be a loving, caring person

Father’s Day is this Sunday. While I have no problem finding material for a Mother’s Day column, stories dealing with Father’s Day are few and far between.

I want to thank a reader for sending me the following.

“When God was creating fathers, he started with a tall frame.

“The angel asked, ‘If you are going to make children so close to the ground, why have you made fathers so tall? He would not be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping.’

“God smiled and said, ‘Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?’

“When God made father’s hands, they were large and sturdy.

“In disbelief the angel said, ‘Do you know what you are doing? Large hands are clumsy. They will have a hard time managing diaper pins, small buttons, and rubber bands on pony tails or even removing splinters.’

“God smiled and said, ‘I know, but they are large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day, yet small enough to cup a child’s face in his hands.’

“God then molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders.

“The angel watched in disbelief and then humorously declared, ‘Boy, this is the end of the week, all right. Do you realize you just made a father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the child falling through his legs?’

“God smiled and said, “A mother needs a lap; a father needs strong shoulders on which to balance a child, pull a sled and hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus.’

“God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen when the angel blurted out, ‘That is not fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a child’s birthday party without crushing at least three of the guests?’

“God smiled and said, ‘They will work. You will see. They will support a little child who pretends to ride a horse, or scare off mice at the summer cabin and be covered with shoes that will be a challenge to fill.’

“God worked throughout the night, giving the father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant.

“Finally, almost as an afterthought, he added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, ‘Now, are you satisfied that he can love as much as a mother?’

“The angel did not speak another word.”

We are called to be God’s junior partners in creating a better world. We have to use the gifts and talents that He has given us.

God wants us to continue to create what He has started. We believe that God will continue to guide creation toward perfection. We have to work with He to do all we can to protect human life, promote human dignity, and defend those who are poor.

A father’s vocation is not just to “make money,” but to be the loving person that God has called him to be. He must always seek the common good and reflect the goodness of God in every aspect of life. If he is to reflect the fatherhood of God, then he must be a caring and loving person as God is loving and caring.

That is an awesome responsibility but at the same time, an awesome privilege. May all fathers have a great Father’s Day.