A good father, even in death, never dies. He lives forever in the hearts of those who cherish, honor, and love him.
One day, not long ago, a young son poured out his heart to his father. Some school kids had said some hurtful things to the boy, and he was heartbroken. The father gently listened, held his son close, and tenderly reassured him. The wise father didn’t hurry his son or try to solve the problem, but instead he listened. Then, remembering his own occasional hurt feelings as a boy, the father said, “I wish I could take away your pain.” And in a moment of intense bonding, the son hugged his father and said, “It feels like you already have.”
The love in a father’s heart is what connects fathers to their children. It’s not in telling or preaching but in showing and serving; it’s not in dictating and distancing but in building relationships with time and trust and with tenderness.
Today more than ever we need wise and loving fathers who put first things first and are actively involved in family life. After all, as a good father said, “How important is a line in a resumé if it comes at the expense and neglect of loved ones?”1
Fatherhood is the source of some of our greatest joys. Yes, there’s sorrow. And surely there’s some pain. But wise and loving fathers don’t give up. They keep loving, keep trying, keep being there for their families.
Program #3956
1 Neal A. Maxwell, Moving in His Majesty and Power (2004), 86.