To all fathers out there

Deacon Pedro

June 17, 2011
When I was little, I used to have a story about a bunny to whom everyone asked what he wanted to be when he grew up: a firefighter, a construction worker?[singlepic id=9 w=320 float=right]
No.
What the bunny wanted to be was a daddy.
The last image in that story-book: of a daddy bunny putting his little bunnies to bed is engraved in my mind.
I wanted to be that Daddy bunny.
I have always wanted to be a dad. But being a Dad is more than just having children; you also have to bring them up. And that’s when it gets tough. We have to love them, teach them values, spend lots of time with them so that they “catch” your values – I have to be the best man I can be, so that hopefully it’s the kind of man they’ll want to be one day.
I think that if we spend too much time trying to make money so that we can take the kids to Disney World or to get a bigger house – the time will fly by and before we know it, when we have the big house or the money to go to Disney, it’ll be too late.
I don’t remember caring about not having the things other kids had – but I do remember playing catch with my dad – I remember him taking us to the little amusement park in town. And I hope those are the things he remembers too – because, at the time of death, it won’t matter how much money I made, or how many degrees I had. It won’t matter how big my house was or whether we went on expensive vacations or not – what will matter is what kind of Dad I was and what my kids think of me – and ultimately what kind of adults and parents my kids will be.
So to all Fathers out there – may our God, who is THE Father, continue to bless you with the Grace of leadership, time, patience and strength that you will continue to excel in the most important job of your life.