Honoring Our Fathers And Forefathers

In our youth we easily forget to honor those fathers and father-figures who love and guide us. As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, some of us begin to realize that our fathers are the unsung heroes we never appreciated much. If we are one of the lucky ones, they were our champions growing up.

Always stalwart and steady, no matter what was going on around them or preying on their minds. How often must they have ended their day wondering whether they were doing enough for their families and what the future might hold?

After the fact, sometimes they openly share the worries, fears and insecurities that became all too real in times of crisis, but these challenges were carefully hidden from us, so as not to frighten us.

For those of us who have fathers who fought in wars for our freedom, we owe a great debt of gratitude. These courageous men who may have been terrified in the face of grave danger, fought bravely for their beliefs and the safety of their families. Many were lost or injured. Most returned home, greatly changed. And yet, we rarely heard about the realities of war, or their sacrifices.

Striking a balance between strength and vulnerability is a never-ending work in progress. Blessed is the man who finds his equilibrium with a calm, cool demeanor in the midst of the chaos that surrounds them. Blessed also are the children who call him “Dad.”

To the men who have acted as leaders and mentors to many protégés, perhaps without even knowing it, a great deal is owed. Whether it has been through leadership in business, teaching in schools, or volunteering in communities, many have no idea how deeply they have affected those whose lives they have touched, even peripherally.

Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands ~ Linda Hogan

For those of us who have fathers in Spirit, it is comforting to know that they have never left our sides. They are still here to guide, guard and protect us and often they can do a much better job from the other side than they ever could have done from the Earth plane.

The wisdom our forefathers have garnered from their exalted vantage point is more than enough to power us through our daily lives, because we know that we can always call on them to support us. Whenever life is uncertain, our fathers, grandfathers and long lines of ancestors, who have traveled the same paths before us, step forward to help nudge us in the right direction.

Those of us who have lost our fathers very prematurely, were abandoned by our fathers, or had no role-models or father-figures early in life, for whatever reason, we can take comfort in the fact that we are also not alone in our life journey. We may not have their physical presence, but we are always watched over by our ancestors with love and pride.