This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day, a special opportunity to pause and give thanks for the fathers, grandfathers and father figures who have helped shape our lives. While every family story is different, Father’s Day invites us to reflect on the quiet and lasting influence of those who have guided us and stood beside us through the different stages of our lives.
I think of my own father with deep gratitude. He was always encouraging, and I knew he was in my corner. He supported my involvement in extracurricular activities, cheered me on in the things that mattered to me, and, like many dads, patiently taught me practical life skills — including how to drive. He passed away a few years ago, but his legacy remains. His steady presence in my life continues to shape the way I understand the influence a father can have in the life of a child.
Dads often teach us in ways that are both spoken and unspoken. They teach us courage to try again, patience when they walk beside us through difficulty and generosity when they give their time and attention. Whilst it is the big moments we often remember it is really the ordinary, everyday moments that leave the deepest impression.
At the heart of this is the importance of family. Families are central to the strength of our communities and the health of our society. It is within families that we first learn how to love, forgive, share, persevere, listen, serve and belong. In our homes children learn what it means to be known and valued. They learn how to navigate disappointment, celebrate achievement, manage conflict and care for others. When families are supported and strengthened, communities are also strengthened. Thank you for sharing your families with us. The father’s day breakfast today was special because you care and you came.
As a Christian community, we also take great strength from the model given to us in the Bible. God is described as our heavenly Father. He teaches us how to love and how to forgive.
This Father’s Day, we give thanks for the fathers and father figures in our community, and we acknowledge the many ways they contribute to the lives of children and families. May it be a special weekend for you and your family.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God
1 John 3:1