FATHERS . . A BROTHERHOOD OF MEN

   

             In many ways – and for many reasons – Fatherhood transcends the boundaries of geography, religion, culture, politics, language, ethnicity, and economics.    Of the 7.7 billion souls who occupy this space and place we know as Planet Earth, 3.8 billion of these souls are males and approximately 1 billion of these 3.8 billion souls are Fathers. 

          One billion souls – Fathers – who are old, young, poor, rich, homeless, incarcerated, wise, educated, uneducated, married, divorced, single, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, Quakers, Buddhists, Muslims, and agnostics – have the same dreams, hopes, and fears for their children.  One billion souls – Fathers – who speak different languages --– French, Urdu, Spanish, English, Portugese, Swahili, Xhosa, Arabic, Gaelic, German, Chinese, Russian, Japanese, Italian, Hindi, Bengali, and Punjabi/Lahnda.  Yet, an invisible thread connects each of these 1 billion souls.  

          The 2.2 billion souls – Our Children – is the invisible thread connecting the world’s 1 billion souls who are Fathers to each other.  They are members of a brotherhood – a Brotherhood of Men who struggle quietly and unceremoniously to positively shape the minds and souls of Our Children – the “Emerging Keepers Of The Planet”.  As they experience the joys and challenges of positively shaping the minds and souls of Our Children, they quickly discover that a magic formula for parenting does not exist.  No one has come to them  and said:  “To become a successful parent and have happy, well-adjusted children, you need to do ‘x, y, and z’.”  

Each new day presents the 1 billion souls who are members of the Brotherhood of Men – Fathers – with new challenges.   So many questions flood their collective minds:

“Am I spending enough time with my child?”

“Am I a good parent?”

“Is my child receiving an adequate education?”

“What type of world will my child inherit?”

“How can I keep my child healthy and safe?”

          Children are a man’s “heart and soul”.  He will walk through fire, if that is what it takes for him to provide for and protect his child.  

          To the 1 billion Fathers – the Brotherhood of Men – who walk through fire every day to provide for, protect, and positively shape the minds and souls of the world’s 2.2 billion children – Our Children – the “Emerging Keepers Of The Planet”, the United States International Men’s Day Team(http:///www.usainternationalmensday.blogspot.com)  and IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® extends a heartfelt “Thank You!”  

          You are important.  You are valued.  You are loved.

Happy Father’s Day!