Fathers impact children in many ways

By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Fathers have left an indubitable mark on our lives, for the good or not. Or maybe, a little of both have been sprinkled in our lives.
    Father’s Day invokes memories of a loving Dad, a stranger, a vile soul or someone we wish we knew better. But, each child learns either by example or through inherited traits passed down through the generations.
    Look at those freckles or that dimple. Yes. That is something passed through the genes. How about that hair – straight, wavy or receding – your nose, your eyes, a temper, all inherited qualities. Even if your father is not a living part of your life, you carry a part of him wherever you go.
    Does it mean you will be like your father? No. There are inherited traits you cannot do much about, but you can change the acquired traits, if you so choose.
    Acquired traits of patriotism, working hard at what seems to be a menial job, but always doing the best work possible; always pray before going to sleep at night; a determined spirit or staying true to the tradition of family and self are all honorable.
    Even if you feel you’ve been saddled with a lot of “junk,” a child still decides what path will be taken.
     Children listen and watch carefully. I think of the times I’ve seen children step into their father’s boots and how they clomp around. But, that child grows and those boots become smaller. And time passes away quickly. Fathers, what do you want your children to remember? Will they want to fill your shoes? What type of legacy do you want carried in your name?
    The first thing a child receives from their father, usually, is love. A father usually falls in love all over again. Then, the child is given a name. The last name of your father, traditionally. You learn how to say it. You learn how to write it. That is how you are known.
    In a song by Dierks Bentley, “My last name,” one verse speaks a volume of truth.
    “Grandpa took it off to Europe, to fight the Germans in the war; it came back on some dog tags, nobody wears no more; it’s written on a headstone, in the field where he was slain. It’s my last name.”
    Bentley’s song goes on to say, “Passed down from generations, too far back to trace; I can see all my relations when I look into my face.”
    How often it is overheard, “You look just like your father.” Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and reflect upon ancestors and what physical characteristics and learned behavior you carry and will pass on?
    A reputation is also directly connected to your name.
     “Daddy always told me far back as I recall, son, you’re part of somethin’, you represent us all. So I keep it how you got it, as solid as it came. It’s my last name.”
     Most fathers beam with pride when talking about their children. They acknowledge their strengths, revel in their achievements and want to erase their disappointments.
    Though it seems Father’s Day doesn’t take on the elaboration of Mother’s Day, a child, son or daughter, is born from the father, as well.
    On Father’s Day, take your rightful spots Dads. You help form opinions. You are a steady foundation. How you live speaks of how your child will follow.
    For many fathers, Clarence Budington Kelland summed it up. “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”
    Fathers, what you “do and say” matters. It is the compass for which a child sets his/her course. Though you may sometimes feel second place to Mom, don’t fall into the trap. A child longs for their father’s love and approval. And for the less than admirable father, there is always time for change.
    “”A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.”
-Billy Graham, Christian evangelist.