Let’s face it, men and women were put on this earth, and they are both built differently to produce life – bottom line! We always think of women when it comes to the primary care of a child even in marriage. But there are many instances where women are the breadwinner, and it makes more sense financially for the woman to go to work and the man to stay home and take care of the children. When I watch YouTube videos, some of the most moving ones are between fathers and their children. There was one particular one when a man was marrying a woman who had a daughter from a previous relationship. Before reciting the wedding vows to his intended wife, he bent down to the little girl, and took her hand and promised to always be by her side to protect, support, and take care of her always. As he was reciting those words, she started to cry and at the end gave him a huge hug around his neck.
I am not ashamed to admit that I get very emotional and tear up from that man pledging the devotion to his new stepdaughter. You don’t have to be a biological father to raise a child. I also remember one time watching Steve Harvey who has a show and showcases young children. He was interviewing a little girl and Steve Harvey pointed to a man in the audience, “Is that your father?” She looked at him and sternly corrected him, “NO! THAT’S MY DAD!”
As I stated in a previous editorial, when I was growing up, every boy had a father (figuratively and literally). Whenever an older man wanted to give advice to a younger man, he would always start with the phrase, “Now, listen son,” before he would dispense words of wisdom. I remember a few years ago, when I was eating in a fast-food place on Smith Street, and there were four high school students sitting at another table and one was giving out advice to another one, and one said to his peer, “Now, listen son.” And I just smiled from ear to ear because it brought back memories when I would hear older men address young men that way.
When I see men taking care of young children, it reminds me of my dad. He showed kindness to all, which made him so endearing. We were blessed that he lived to the age of 95, and he was joyful to the end.
It was so heartbreaking to see all those families shattered in Texas and those precious angels were taken from their families. One particular father stood out. He talked about his stepdaughter who was so precious to him, and he always promised to take care of her, but he couldn’t. It was just so heartbreaking as he talked in tears. As anyone who has lost a child, you know what they always say: “This is not right. A child should never die before me.”
So, to all these men who are father figures, I salute you. You are heroes. C.M.
