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It’s no secret that a father’s influence is profound. 

Study after study tells us that good fathers are important. From their mere presence in the home to whether or not they go to the gym or how they live out their faith, is proven to show a significant impact on the lives of their children. 

There is no doubt, the role of father and mother were designed to be perfectly complementary. Surely, our fallen nature leaves room for growth, but the sexes were created in perfect communion with each other and the family has been given the most supreme role in the continued renewal of humanity. It was in the context of the family that our Lord came to redeem us. The plan of salvation included both an earthly father and a heavenly one and the image of Jesus’ incarnation would not have been complete without the Holy Family and St. Joseph’s model of Fatherhood.

As our world and society seems to flounder and decline, the evidence is clear.

We need good dads.

But what is it about a Dad that makes the role so vitally important? Why is a Father’s character so integral to the fall and rise of society and our journey toward heaven?

Sure, their daily work to provide and contribute to the home and their often superior skill set for fixing and problem solving (at least in my home), is valuable and appreciated. They’re usually good for toddler bedtime horseplay and dad jokes that invoke preteen eye rolls. They often have a good record for being up for a game of catch or batting practice in the backyard. Those are all good and important contributions and give us a positive vision of fatherhood. 

But the real impact of good and holy fatherhood is that only a dad can give us a glimpse of the Father. A good dad gives us lessons in integrity, patience, self-sacrifice and grit, and in doing so, points us toward Our Creator. A good dad teaches all those things and shows us how to love. With gentle eyes and firm resolve, our earthly fathers give us just a peak of the nature and love of our Heavenly Father. The most distinct nature of God is that He not only called us into being, but also loves us. He created us out of love and to love and He delights in us. He continues to love us through all our flaws and failings. 

I recently saw a study that highlighted the incredible findings concerning father/child play time in the toddler and elementary years. It showed that the mutual release of oxytocin, (or love hormone) in the Father/Child playtime, far outpaces that of when a mother plays with her child. That spike of oxytocin is present for the mother in times of comfort and consolation, but not in times of play like it is for the Father. Chemically, a Father displays love with his child through play. It’s just one of many fascinating findings about the Father/child relationship.

What a beautiful insight to the heart of our Father, that in His creative genius, all things work to reveal Himself and his love to us.

This Father’s Day, let us thank God for the father’s who show us a glimpse of the Father. May they be blessed with endless grace, wisdom, and a love that knows no bounds.