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Heartwings Love Notes 781 - Fatherhood is more than Begetting

Heartwings says, "Whether or not a man has his own progeny, he can be fatherly."

The day honoring fathers actually sprang to life in 1910, the same year as the day honoring mothers. However, Mother's day was officially set in 1914 and took hold much faster. Father's Day also arose in other places, each unbeknownst to the other and was celebrated sporadically after that. In 1957 Senator Margaret Chase smith proposed it be officially established. However in the end it wasn't until 1972 that President Nixon signed a congressional resolution firmly establishing it like Mother's Day, on a continuing basis.

It may seem strange that it took much longer to establish a day for fathers, yet until fairly recently in our western society, their role has been more that of the protector and provider than of the nurturer. My children's father was a case in point. My first child was about 6 months old when I had to go out and leave her in his care. I asked him to change her diaper if need be. On my return she wore an unfolded cloth diaper, pinned at the corners with the rest of the cloth dangling between her legs. Men simply didn't care for their infants then.

It delights my heart to see fathers caring for their infants or toddlers in public. This is a new phenomenon in our society and I believe it is an important step toward happier children and a more balanced family life. The tenderness of men is a strong instinct and one I am very happy to see given a chance to blossom. In many older families one or more animal companions may take the place of human children as objects of nurturing love. It is healthy to care for a dependent whether animal or human. The heart thrives on the giving of affection.

My husband Stephen has taken to fathering a collection of succulents. He has evolved a garden in pots that he tends and looks after, calling them "the babies." Two years ago he began with one small succulent garden. It was all his own idea. Now his original single pot has expanded to five and he cares for them tenderly. There is no limit to the nurturing instincts of fatherhood. They can be applied to any and all of creation. Our world came into being with a combination of different energies motivated by a creative force that continues to this day. We are the gardeners here, and the more participation in its nurturance that can be encouraged, the better.

May you enjoy fatherhood or motherhood as you nurture loved ones.
 

I love to hear from readers and would be honored if you would comment and let me know any suggestions or thoughts. If a friend sent you this, you can sign up at my web site, www.heartwingslovenotes.com, where more love notes can be found in the archives.

Blessings and Best Regards,
Tasha Halpert
 

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