Strength of a Mountain
God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad.
-Author Unknown
Father’s Day is observed each year on the third Sunday in June. It’s a day we celebrate daddy (dad, papa, padre, pappy). Just as we have advocated for honoring our mothers daily; we propose that every day should be remembered as Father’s Day!
We admired the strength, courage and determination dad exhibited while serving as provider and protector for his family. While growing up, we recall daddy as being the breadwinner and head of the household who afforded his loved ones the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter. He saw this responsibility as an honor and privilege and found joy while often putting our needs above his own comfort or convenience. We happily reminisce about the weekly “payday treats” or the new clothing we received on special occasions, knowing that although it was a sacrifice, daddy felt joyful.
As protector, our hero demonstrated strength as he boldly took care of his children, yet he was gentle enough to shower us with tender loving care. He took the time to listen patiently to our queries, complaints and requests and took an active role in being present for us, no matter what. He was a comforter whose strong faith and fortitude kept us safe from harm or adversities. Daddy was the knight in shining armor to his daughters and the superman hero to his sons. We knew that we could depend on him when challenges arose to handle each situation with grace and patience.
Even though daddy is no longer on this earthly plain we thank him for the strength he exhibited while parenting and for demonstrating those attributes which molded us into loving, respectful, and supportive adults.
On this Father’s Day we seek God’s blessings on fathers everywhere. For biological fathers or for those who play a fatherly role (stepfathers, grandfathers, older brothers, uncles, foster dads, etc.) we honor you on this special day. We pray that as God’s masterpiece, you will continue to grow in strength to love and serve Him and be excellent role models for your children.
Happy Father’s Day to all the awesome fathers out there and especially those stalwart dads of Cambridge Academy Alumni Association International (CAAAI).
Dr. Desiree DeFlorimonte, CEO - CAAAI
