The Sunday Mail
Phillipa Mukome-Chinhoi
FATHERS are seldom celebrated.
But some of those that are celebrated are proud and seemingly do not take notice when they are showered with gifts by their spouses and children.
The recognition they get from their families is an appreciation of the invaluable role.
In most cases, they toil to get the means that are needed to take care of the family.
Notwithstanding the challenges that might exist, today is simply a day to celebrate them.
These are hardly normal times, what with the raging coronavirus pandemic.
However, this shouldn’t be an excuse not to celebrate these important figures. A small family braai, luncheon or a hearty dinner suffices in appreciating your dad or the father of your children.
A father’s love is omnipresent — whether they are present or absent due to work, divorce or death.
It does not matter if your father failed to help you achieve that which you needed the most in life, you still have to celebrate him for the effort.
It is the little things in life that go a long way.
Different shades
There are cases where people also tend to celebrate this day by appreciating mothers who assumed the father’s role and single-handedly raised their families.
They certainly deserve praise, but this day is for fathers; not mothers.
Most men — except the lazy few — go through a lot in trying to make ends meet.
They always do the best for their families.
There are also the rare ones; those who raised families on their own. Most of them, however, are not duly celebrated by society.
I recently met a young man, Godfrey Dzeka, who was looking for a perfect gift for his father who is now 62-years-old.
Dzeka’s mother died when he was in Form One.
His father did not remarry because he feared his children would be ill-treated.
“I have two younger sisters who are now gainfully employed,” said Dzeka.
“We did all the housework with our father and never engaged a maid to assist. We are very grateful to our father because he prioritised his children first.
“Most men remarry within a year of their wife’s death or divorce. The life of the children is affected negatively in most cases,” said Dzeka.
Luciana Matyatya, a beauty therapist in Harare, said she was planning to send some money to her father so that he could spoil himself today.
Her father took care of her and two sisters after their mother had left the family for a wealthier man.
Even if your parents had, or have, their differences, this should never stop you from celebrating them as a child.
Their marital issues are entirely up to them.
For the religious, the Bible, in Psalm 103:13, teaches us: “The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him.”
Father’s Day is celebrated around the world to recognise the contribution that fathers and father figures make in their children’s lives.
This day celebrates fatherhood and male parenting.
Although it is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide, many countries, including Zimbabwe, observe this day on the third Sunday of June.
Father’s Day allows us to show and express our love, adoration and gratitude to these special people.
It is a day when these deserving men are shown the special place they have in life and what influence they have on you.
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers!
