Blog #4 - What A Disgrace!

This is my Father's Day post.  Yes, it's late and let me tell you why.  I had my fingers all poised to type something inspiring in celebration of fathers, then I began seeing comments that left me in a state of disbelief.  I can't understand how a day of celebration was transformed into a time of bashing and deprecation.  It hurt and I'm still reeling from the effects.

I can understand and empathize with women who have been wronged by men, but this wasn't the proper time to address that.  While maybe their fathers, brothers, and children's fathers may not have proven ideal and proper over the years, there had to be some positive male influence in their lives at some point -- especially if they are the strong black women they purport themselves to be.  Blank stare.

Father's Day is a day of celebration and reflection.  I have wonderful memories, childhood and adulthood, that include laughing with my father.  I consider myself blessed but I know I'm not the only one.  I've enjoyed several strong male role models over the years -- uncles, brothers, cousins, pastors, community leaders, teachers, mechanics, attorneys, entrepreneurs, bus drivers, friends, etc. -- and someone out there has too.  It's easy to find fault but more mature to overlook it.

I could go on and on but why.  So, while I can no longer remember what I was going to share about my dad and I on Father's Day, I'll share this picture that I took two years ago.  I don't know this man or the child and I honestly don't even remember where I was when I took the picture. But I recall thinking, "I hope that child remembers this feeling for life."  And when it comes to my relationship with my dad, I do.