Where do dads find strength and motivation?

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I would like to share some of the things I leaned at a funeral last week.

Speaking of the deceased the priest told us there were three fraternities that made him the man he was.

First, the group of boyhood friends, classmates who played together, studied and learned together, and stayed in touch regularly over the many years and the more that a thousand miles that now separated them.

Second, and the one I want to emphasize, was his wife and family. He then told the “munchkins” who were present, “… neither you nor I can appreciate how a man feels when he looks across the table and sees his eyes and face looking back at him.” He went on to say that is just the beginning of the pleasure associate with seeing the person behind those eyes share his likes, dislikes, interests, and values. This dad knew that his kids would soon be look in the mirror and see him looking back at them.

Kind of scary isn’t it. More that that, it is the motivation that keeps dads doing the right thing, staying on the right path, and being the leaders that all dads are, or hope to be! I sometimes think our kids are our conscience as well as our motivators. Think about it!

The third fraternity the priest mentioned was the men’s discussion group he attended weekly in our church. There he felt accountable to his peers, an accountability that strengthened his faith and his resolve to be the “best version of himself”. I am humbled and at the same time proud, to say that I belong to that group and have learned so much from him and the other men. Thank you Paul. We’ll miss you.

My question to men everywhere: where do you find motivation and strength?