CatholicFatherOf2

Special Post for Fathers and Sons

As of 10/4 there have been more than 300 murders in Philadelphia. A baby was victim 300. A man from New York was 301. And a 17-year-old teenager was victim 302. On 10/17 a 25 year old was shot and on 10/18 a 21 year old was shot in the neighborhood where I grew up. There are so many it is hard to keep track of the number. Why am I bringing this up? I am bringing this up because I believe that if more fathers played a more active role in the lives of their children this atrocity would not happen.

I ran across a YouTube video today about Dick & Rick Hoyt. Who are they? Their story is inspirational and amazing. This is from their web site. “Dick and Rick Hoyt are a father-and-son team from Massachusetts who together compete just about continuously in marathon races. And if they’re not in a marathon they are in a triathlon — that daunting, almost superhuman, combination of 26.2 miles of running, 112 miles of bicycling, and 2.4 miles of swimming. Together they have climbed mountains, and once trekked 3,735 miles across America. It’s a remarkable record of exertion — all the more so when you consider that Rick can't walk or talk.” This is the story of a man who accepted his son as the gift he was. He didn't let his son's disability stand in their way. Here is the link to the video about them.

I think that if more fathers and sons put the kind of effort into their relationship that Dick and Rick have, the number of murders in Philadelphia would be closer to zero. What do you think? How much effort do you make? Do you go to their sporting events? Do you go to their school events including parent teacher events? Do you take them to Church or other religious services? Do you watch what they watch on TV? Do you give them limits? Do you listen to the music they listen to? Do your play their video games? Do you listen to them? Do you put in enough effort into your relationship with you children to make a difference? Do you set a good enough example for your son(s) that they will do the same? Are you being a real man?

posted by CatholicFatherOf2 @ 6:58 PM