THE FATHERHOOD CYCLE

It’s very interesting to look at the different stages of a person’s life.

Fatherhood is not exempted from this.

Look at how the cycle of fatherhood works:

• At 4 years of age: “My Daddy can do anything.”
• 7 years: “My Dad knows a lot, a whole lot.”
• 12 years: “Oh, well – naturally – Father doesn’t know that either.”
• 14 years: “Father? Hopelessly old-fashioned.”
• 21 years: “Oh, that man is so out-of-date. What did you expect?”
• 25 years: “He knows a little bit about it – but not much.”
• 30 years: “Maybe we ought to find out what Dad thinks.”
• 35 years: “Let’s ask Dad what he would do before we make a decision.”
• 40 years: “I wonder what Dad would have thought about that? He was pretty smart.”
• 50 years: “My Dad knew absolutely everything.”
• 60 years: “I’d give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss that man.”

Now that’s life isn’t it?

My kids are grown up. It’s heartening to know that the more they mature the more Father’s Day mean a lot to them. It took me this long to realize that I never knew what was going in their hearts when they were younger.

When they were younger…I felt bad when they forget my birthdays.

When they were younger…I felt bad when they did not even greet me “Happy Father’s Day!”

When they were younger…I felt bad when they rushed out of the house to be with their friends on Christmas eve.

When they were younger…I felt bad when they seem to be spending more time with their friends than with their folks.

But now that I’m a little older and a little wiser I realize they’re all part of the stages of life.

My kids never forget my birthday this time.

My kids make sure they stay home with us on Christmas eve.

My kids surprise me with a little something on Father’s Day.

Father’s Day to me now is both a joy and a worry as my kids are growing up. I am always afraid they are going to give me a present that I couldn’t afford.

I love my kids and they are all growing up very well indeed.

My son and I wrote a book on “Paren-Teen” entitled: “Why don’t you grow up…dad!”

Not only is it a funny book but in it he expressed his love and his sentiments being a son.

I’ve accomplished many things in life though I would love to accomplish a lot more.

I have had people given me standing ovations and glowing evaluations to my seminars and speeches and I feel very much fulfilled in what I am doing.

God has blessed me over the years and He has occupied me with gladness of heart.

Similarly I have gone through tremendous challenges in life both in the business fields as well as in the personal areas too.

I have had business partners who cheated me…I have had friends who betrayed me…I have had people I respect for so long…. lied, condemned and deceive me. And that’s all right. All part of life’s different stages but the bottom line is that when I hit home, my wife and my kids are all there for me and then nothing else matters any more. God is number One in my life. Next to Him is my wife and the people who come next are my kids. My businesses and career follow.

This is the order or my life’s priorities.

Father’s Day is not just receiving gifts from my wife and kids. They already are.

Family happiness is homemade.

This is why I am home most of the time.