A boy was small for his size, but
he tried his best at football, cheered by his loving father. His father was
always there to support him. Even though he was just a bench-warmer, his father
always got a ticket to attend at his son’s game. One day, the father died. The boy
told the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss
practice today?” The coach replied, “Take the rest of the week off and don’t even
plan to come back to our Do-or-Die game on Saturday.” However, on the day of
the crucial game, the boy showed up to play. He begged to be given a chance on
the field. The coach was surprised when he gave the boy a chance to play. He performed
brilliantly and contributed to winning the game. The coach asked, “How was the possible
that you played a good game?” The boy replied, “You know coach my father had
been blind. When he died, I know it would be the first time he could watch me
play. I don’t want to disappoint him. So I did my best in the game.”
My dear friends, the story tells
us the worth of a father for his child. Yes, like mothering, fathering is important
to a child’s life. A good father does not throw all the obligations on the mother
to raise a child. The father needs to get involved and be a partner of his
wife. Like Zechariah in Luke 1: 57-66, a good father should be involved in
their child’s life even in small matters like in giving the child a name. A
father who shows his concern for the personal growth and development of his child
is what the world now needs and not those fathers who only love beating their
children and leave them unprotected. In today’s mass, let us pray for all
fathers to fulfill their obligation as parents and may they build good
relationships with their children. May they also remember: Christmas is merrier
when the family prayer is always led by the father. Amen.
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