495 words + 6 title

A Father’s Day reminder for everyone
By Guest Columnist William Twiner

Father’s Day is not a great day of celebration for everyone. For many, Father’s Day will be a reminder of pain, shame, or inferiority. 

This does not mean that you should love or celebrate your father any less - actually the exact opposite. If you still have your dad and have a great relationship with him, then, by all means, celebrate that; but, while you celebrate, reach out to those you know who do not have their fathers - especially if this is their first Father’s Day without their dad - or to those who do not have a great relationship with their father, or to fathers who cannot see their kids. 

To the ones who have great fathers, I see you and celebrate with you. 

To the ones who are finally fathers and this is your first Father’s Day, I see you and rejoice with you. 

To the ones with dads who did not show up or who quit showing up or who left you, I see you and mourn with you. 

To the ones who have lost their fathers and it still hurts, I see you and weep with you. 

To the ones who lost their father, but they had a complicated relationship and now do not know how to feel on Father’s Day, I see you and lament with you. 

To the ones who are experiencing their first Father’s Day without your dad, I see you and will remember your father with you. 

To the ones who desperately want to be fathers but cannot be, I see you and am hopeful for you.

To the fathers who cannot be with their children, I see you and pray for you to be reunited. 

To the fathers of special needs children who are truly more tired and spent from advocating and just surviving, I see you and I cannot pretend to understand - but I will listen. 

To the fathers of adopted children, I see you and pray for unity and patience. 

To the fathers who quit showing up or quit trying, I see you, and I pray you realize it is not too late. 

To the ones who let anger or resentment separate them from their father, I see you and pray you have the courage to make the first move towards reconciliation. 

And a special thanks to all those Bonus Dads or Father Figures, those special men who have chosen to father children who are not their own, to the men who invest in their kids’ friends without dads, to the men who take the time to mentor, I see you, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart! 

If you can, hug your dad today! If you can, call your dad today!

And, as a Christian, I want to tell everyone that our great and glorious God is also your Father. He is the Good Good Father. He is the Father who will never leave you nor forsake you.