C. Robin Lotha
It is learnt that the World Population is more than 7 billion and all the people are scattered around the globe which consists nearly 200 Independent Nations. The world population includes all Aged Persons, Men, Women, Youth and Children. Every year, the Christian communities are celebrating ‘Fathers’ Day’ in the 3rd Week of June all over the world. But here comes some questions linger in my mind and which reminds me constantly. Out of so many people in this world, how many people are living without Fathers? How many people have lost their Fathers? How many people are without Father’s love, guidance and control? How many people are celebrating ‘Fathers’ Day’ without their beloved Fathers? I am sure that those who have lost their beloved Fathers are missing something in life and celebrating Fathers’ Day without Father is incomplete. In addition, celebrating Fathers’ Day without God, Prayer and Honor is meaningless and valueless. Therefore, in honor of all our beloved fathers who had left this beautiful world for eternity, let us join together with melancholy and pray for the departed souls.We all know that Father is the Head, Teacher, Shadow and Light of the family. Father is also the Backbone, Leader, Pillar and Torch bearer of the family. Besides Mother, in many occasion Father is the real breadwinner in the family. We found that Father has a vital role to play so as to run and maintain the family. The responsibilities of the father are such as build House to stay, Working hard for money, Clothing to wear, Food to sustain lives, Training and Education for children, Treatment in time of sickness, Protection from all dangers, Counseling to cope crisis in lives, Spiritual guidance for moral life, etc, etc. As a matter of fact, Father is the Centre, Guardian, Head, Hero, Planner, Point Person and a Guiding Star in the family. Without Father in the family is just like a Boat without Rudder, Chickens without Mother, Army without Commander, Students without Teacher and Building without Roof. Father has linkage with the Genealogy, History of the offspring and Builder of the nations. We know that all the fathers have a Herculean Task towards their families. Hence, while toiling and trying to provide the needs of the mothers and children, unfortunately and sometime fathers are facing many hardships and losing their lives far away from homes! Father is one of the best gifts to the family from God and He is working for the family through Father.
From my childhood and till I attained adulthood my Father was my teacher, my counselor, my guide, my judge, my foundation and my role model. Sometime, I had observed and recalled that my father was like a Preacher, Philosopher, Storyteller and a Visionary. Whenever, I was free I came to my Father for his advice, guidance and encouragement. I used to sit beside my father, shared and exchanged our thoughts, ideas and opinions. As human nature we have many problems and issues within the family circle. In order to, resolved those things sometime I argued and had hard time with my father so as to finalized the same. However, sometimes I asked my father to pray for me especially when I was in trouble and in difficult situations. I had experienced that my father was a real driving force throughout my life’s journey. My father was very much interested in Church activities and Social works. Hence, my father had also contributed many good things for the progress and development of our village and church. I had observed and found that my father was very ambitious, hard working, loyal, sincere and faithful to his duties and responsibilities. He was very much interested in Christian songs and Bible readings. He was religious- a Man of Faith and a Man of Prayer. I still remember, while we were still young our father led us for family prayer fellowship. He trained us for manual works and house chores, provided us everything for our studies, taught us Christian songs and Bible lessons. Besides this, he had also taught us about Christian activities, faith, principles and Social customs, norms and values.
On 12th April, 2015 evening when I was busy browsing internet, that fateful night around 9:00 PM when I received news that “Your Father had passed away,” I just could not believed the news. I paused my breathing for a moment. It was heartbroken and very painful news in my life! I thought that people were telling lie to me and I felt that it was just like a nightmare. But at last I had to accept the reality that my beloved Father was no more! Thereafter, without a second doze, whole night I prepared “A short Life History” for my beloved Late Father which I read out during his funeral service. Even though my father was sick, I thought that my father might live a little longer and live with us. But our lives and destinies are only in the hands of God the creator. It is not our will and power but only according to God’s plan. We cannot do anything and it is beyond our control. The Almighty God has purpose for all His creations including mankind. God has plan in our lives and we have to accept it. We can neither omit nor extend even a single day to live in this magnificent world. We cannot complain and against God the creator. Till now I feel that my beloved father is still alive but its only illusion. Even though I climb up on the mountain and call up Father, Father at the top of my voice but my father will never respond me. Now my father is no more in this world and he had left for God’s Heavenly Home. Now the life, works and teachings of my Late Father will remain only in memories and history. For losing my father, now I felt that I have lost my living Library, Commentary and Guide for my physical, social and spiritual life. Right now I am away from my village. I know that in the coming days when I go to my village, I will never meet my beloved father. I know that I will not hear my father’s voice and he will never walking and roaming around our home. It is a great lost to regain, big space or vacuum to be filled and missing a lot of my beloved father. Now it is very difficult to replace my father by someone else and impossible to bring back to life!
The year 2015 is the first time experience in my life and I am celebrating ‘Fathers’ Day’ without my beloved Father. I am sure that there are thousands and millions of men, women, youth and children are also celebrating ‘Fathers’ Day’ like me! How sad we are and it is a very painful moment. Today I am looking everywhere but my father is not here with me to celebrate the ‘Fathers’ Day’! I wish I could buy a gift and something special for my father but now he had left this world for eternity. To show my love and honor, today I want to give a beautiful present to my father but he is not with me now. Every day I am missing my beloved father and remembering him deeply in my silent tears. How sad I am today and for not celebrating ‘Fathers’ Day’ with my beloved father from this year! Every single day and every moment I remember my beloved father. I wish if my father is still a live, I would honor and try to meet all his needs in every possible ways but he is not with me now. All the happiness, wonderful times and good days that we had together with our beloved father while he was still alive will never come back again! I thank God for sending our beloved father to this world and for all the blessings and support that we had received while he was alive. At last, I pray to the Eternal God that though we are physically departed from this world, may the unceasing love and presence of God be with us till we meet again…
Dear friends, by God’s grace your fathers are still alive with you today. Hence, never take this ‘Fathers’ Day’ for granted. You have only One Father in this world, you do not have many fathers so try to be there with your father today. Try to be with him physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Tell him and hug your father today that he is the most loving father in this world and the best father among the thousand fathers. Give thanks and honor to your beloved father for all the blessings, care and support that you have received throughout your life. Friends, please take this golden opportunity and celebrate this ‘Fathers’ Day’ with your father less you may regret one day. Only God knows, in the coming years you may not see and celebrate the ‘Fathers’ Day’ with your beloved father. In the Bible also we found that Our Life is compared with Dream, Flower, Grass, Shadow and Vapor. We do not know about tomorrow because life has no guarantee. So, on this special day- ‘Fathers’ Day’ try to show your love and honor to your father. If possible try to share your happiness, take special time for fellowship and at least wish him ‘Happy Fathers’ Day’. If you are away from home, do pray for your beloved father’s life. Give thanks to God that your father is still alive today and praise God for giving you good father to guide you and praying for your future. I beseech and pray that may the merciful God grant good health and long lives to all the Fathers.
