Have you noticed how many TV shows and commercials portray dads as complete buffoons? If you take the time to watch and notice, it becomes apparent very quickly that in the mainstream media, fathers are not usually portrayed favorably. I mean, sure, in most shows dads love their kids, but if you look closely, they are also usually portrayed as bumbling, fumbling doofuses who makes just as much trouble for mom as the kids do.
He never cleans and when he does, he does it incorrectly. And he messes the house up even more than the children.
If he’s responsible for chauffeur duties, he drops the kids off late or forgets to pick them up completely.
Mom has to leave the house? He can barely handle being alone, “babysitting” his own kids.
He says the dumbest things, somehow insulting his wife or digging himself into some kind of hole he has to work to get out of.
Don’t believe me? Take a look at these commercials to see what I’m talking about.
Wait a second. The “toughest test imaginable” is a baby being home alone with Dad?
What about these popular TV dads? Homer Simpson, Peter Griffin from “Family Guy,” or Ray Barone from “Everybody Loves Raymond.” And even worse, his rude, sexist dad, Frank. Even more lovable dads like Tim Taylor from “Home Improvement” are always causing messes, creating problems, and destroying property. Pay attention to the shows and ads that are out there. You’ll see example after example.
Men (and wives of amazing men), do you ever want to scream, “Enough is enough!”?
Have you ever read or heard about the origin of Father’s Day? It was started in 1910 by a young woman in Spokane by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd. When she was 16, her mother died during childbirth with her youngest sibling. Her father raised her and her and her five siblings as a single parent from then on. She was in a church service listening to a sermon on the newly recognized Mother’s Day, and wanted a day to celebrate her amazing father – the way he loved and led them, and all the sacrifices he made for them. It took a while for the holiday to become nationally recognized, but isn’t it beautiful that the origin of Father’s Day is not in marketing or commercialism, but in the recognition of an amazing, sacrificial, do-it-all dad who wouldn’t have dreamed of walking out or giving up on his kids?
Today, on Father’s Day, we want to take the time to say “Thank you” to all of the dads out there who are working hard, loving hard, taking responsibility, and leading your families. Despite what is portrayed, we think men like you are the majority. God calls men to big things in the Bible. With His guidance, and your God-given potential, we know that you bring so much good to your families. We don’t think it’s an accident that God is called The Father. You are made in His image – loving, compassionate, strong, courageous, forgiving, dependable, and trustworthy.
Keep fighting the good fight – for God, YOUR father and as an amazing father to your own families. We’re behind you!
