A Father’s Protective Care – June 17, 2001
Among the many dictionary listings under the word father, we find one meaning that captures the essence of fatherhood in a simple statement: “A father is someone who exercises protecting care.”
Sometime it’s tempting for a man to think of exercising “protecting care” in terms of the material things he can provide. When asked what a father is, most people’s eyes begin to twinkle as they recall shared experiences.
A father’s someone who carries you to bed rather than waking you up after the long ride home from Grandma’s house. A father’s the one who lets you stand on his shoes while he waltzes around the living room. A father’s someone who takes off his coat and wraps it around you on chilly nights at the ballpark. A father’s someone who works beside you until you’ve learned how to do it yourself. A father’s someone who listens.
Protective care is about providing experiences that instill hope and love—experiences that act as a fortification to protect a child from a sometimes cruel world.
Words of encouragement. Acts of kindness. Shared laughter. Taking time to really notice. Being there when needed. These are the things good fathers for generations have done. These are the very best kinds of protecting care.
Program #3748