Third  Sunday in June every year is traditionally
celebrated as Father’s Day by Churches  all over the world since 1927. It is a day on which people give cards and presents to their fathers.
The Fathers Union, now called Men Christian Association (MCA) in many churches is the body that takes care of arranging this unique day. Men Christian Association, which celebrates Fathers Day, is a strong fellowship of Christian Men with a vision to:
* Promote Christian faith in the sphere of marriage and family life,
* Regularly, read, study, discuss the scripture and pray together and encourage couples to wed and more importantly,
*Encourage parents to bring up their children in a Christian way.
As we marked this great event penultimate  week, every man was urged to be a good father.
Growing up with a father is so sweet encouraging in life, especially when he is friendly to you as a young boy. But what kind of a young  father are you to your son? Are you the roaring king of the jungle that when you come home every living soul scatters or the sweet dad that when you appear everyone chants Daddy oyoyo, Daddy oyoyo.
Many African men have had a difficult childhood that they have to extend their wrath to their wives and children to prove they are the man in the house (Oga, Nna yi uku). One does not have to roar to be respected as the head of the family.
You will always win that respect if you are caring and loving. When you are a rough, wild father, all that you can earn is fear.
This reminds me of one day in a catechism class where the man of God trying to explain how loving God is compared him to a loving father. “God is loving, he is like a father, he said.
On hearing that statement, one body stood up and walked away in protest. When asked why he had to do that, the boy said that if God was like his father then he must be a bad god and he hates him. The boy had never experienced his dad’s love. The father was a drunkard who would batter the boy whenever he came home.
The boy grew to hate him so much that he did not want to hear anything concerning fathers. One wonders what kind of a father he is himself now.
Fathers your sons need your love and guidance for them to be good future fathers. Remembers a good tree is nurtured while young. What we experience during childhood is likely to influence our adulthood. A dad is a person, who is loving and kind. He often knowns what you have on your mind. He is someone who listens, suggests and defends. A dad can be one of your best friends.
He is always proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong, a dad can be patient and helpful and strong. In all that you do, dad’s love plays a part. There is always a place for him deep in your heart. And each year that passes you are even more glad, more grateful and proud just to call him your dad.
When boys are growing, they always want to emulate their fathers. They think no one is stronger than dad, no one can be wiser than him. When  is rough the boys will grow to be rough in life. If an old man had been a good father, he will always be thanked for listening and caring, for giving and sharing more especially for being him.
The kind of father you are today will determine what kind of old man you may make, a happy one or miserable old man depending on how you treated your children.
The father, scripturally is the leader of his “Nuclear State”, his family, and a leader is a person who has commanding authority or influence in the state.
There were in our midst a large number of fathers as we celebrated this year’s Father’s Day. And it is pertinent that we fathers appreciate our God given role in our various nuclear families and in the church. This we ought to do by demonstrating exemplary leadership life style as demonstrated by our trusted counsellor, Jesus, the universal supreme leader, The King of kings. The Holy Book, has something to say about desiring to be a leader. In 1st  Timothy 3, Apostle Paul gives some of the key good qualities for leader, integrity, upright, trust worthy, faithful, good morals, compassionate, not corrupt, selfless, not a drunkard and must be approachable.
Leaders generally are well advised to take this advice for the good of our families, our church and our country and posterity.
It is far more better for every father to endeavour to bring up his children in the Godly way and keep a good name for the family and posterity. On the other hand, it is bad, very bad to leave the children un-attended, to become the pursuer of worldly things. This can bring everlasting shame to the family.
It is equally important that the father recognises the role of the mother (his wife) in the family. The father certainly is the head and the wife (the mother) the neck. It is impossible for the head to stand and function effectively without the neck. It is thus of utmost importance that the man (the father) establishes a cordial relationship with the wife at every given time, all through his life time.
Some of the essential things he must not overlook are,
*You should not beat your wife.
*You shall not nag your wife.
*You should not be absent or unavailable in the house without the knowledge and consent of your wife.
*You should not intimidate your wife.
*You should not neglect the needs of your family.
*You should not make family decisions by yourself alone.
*You should not falsely accuse your wife.
*You should not hide anything from your wife.
*You should not be hard-hearted and tough with your wife, Eph. 4:31-32.
It is said that when wealth is lost, nothing is lost, when health is lost something is lost. But when character is lost everything is lost. Father in understanding, be a man.
Sir Ichoku, a retired Director of Public Enlightenment, Rivers State Ministry of Information, is “Father of The Year” St. Michael (Ang) Church, Omoku.

Anthony Ichoku