Today is a day to be grateful for the gift of life and for the man who did his best to show us love and helped us to learn how to live. What a blessing! The warm smile on Dad’s face when we first were able to ride a bicycle, complete the test for a driver’s license, or earn our first paycheck, are memories to be treasured and a testament to the self-giving love of a father. A father’s love gives us security and safety. He takes pride in what his child accomplishes. Dads are works in progress, and we pray, saints in the making. But they have taught us persistence and perseverance; with their encouragement, we find ourselves more ready for life than we would be on our own. So, today we give thanks to them. We thank them for their best efforts and confidence in us, their children.

As we honor them, we also pray for them and ask God to reward them for all their sacrificial love. Their example is central to their children’s appreciation of faith. As one study has pointed out, “Only 2% of kids whose fathers don’t practice the faith will end up practicing that faith!” We pray that dads who know how to give help will have the courage to ask for help from a loving Father who sent his Son to show us His great love and to help fathers on earth lead their children to heaven. We remember in our prayer those dads who have completed their work on earth. May they rest in peace with the Father of us all, our loving God, who, in the love of husband and wife, gives us life and teaches love.

Father Raymond Tyohemba, VC