Yesterday, I drove up to Bellingham to pick up my kids, braving the terrible traffic created by the recent collaps of the I-5 bridge over the Skagit river in Mt. Vernon. On the way back, we took the alternate detour west of Burlington, inching our way through bucolic rural neighborhoods in the fertile Skagit Valley. Neatly plowed fields alternated with immaculate lawns in front of tidy little houses and churches, horses and other livestock happily grazing here and there. Above us, doves – not pigeons – gracefully flew from treetop to treetop.
Despite the traffic, it was a nice little diversion, and the kids held up very well on the long drive.
Being a father is something I’ve been forced by circumstance not to take for granted, but I have to admit that I have it a lot better than many. There are too many men out there who have lost all connections to their children through no fault of their own, and too many children growing up with that empty space in their heart from lack of a parent.
So, on Father’s Day, we should all remember these people who have been unjustly deprived of their natural rights as parents and children. We should remember that in most cases they were not deprived by tragic circumstance or Act of God, but by the willful, evil hand of heartless people.
So even as we do our best to appreciate our children and give thanks for the blessings of family, we should remain vigilant against the homewreckers, the child-snatchers and the modern slavers who remain in a position of power in our society. Unfortunately, in our time Father’s Day should be a day not only of celebration, but a day of remembrance and resolve.
That said, enjoy your time with your kids, your father and the important men and boys in your life, and cherish the memory of those who have passed.
Happy Father’s Day!
