Memories: The Best gift a father or father figure can give!

Father’s day should not be just a day for showing fathers and father figures appreciation; it is the perfect day for fathers and father figures to reflect on personal improvement.

(HARRISVILLE, N.H.) - Everyone holds his or her own idea of what an ideal father should be. Many in my age group remember the iconic image of fatherhood presented by Robert Young in the family sitcom “Father Knows Best”... a TV show which ran during the late 50’s and early 60’s. Some of us were lucky enough to have fathers who set excellent examples from which we could learn. Others of us lost our fathers early in life and found males we admired and wanted to emulate.

Regardless of our own individual history, we all learn that eventually, situations arise during fatherhood, for which we have had no training or example set. These “Seat-of-the-Pants” scenarios always seem to be a bit more difficult to handle and we are usually grateful that they do not occur often. These are situations during which we most often stumble and from which hindsight most often generates regrets and thoughts of “I could have handled that better”.

Thankfully, it is in day-to-day living that we most frequently encounter the opportunity to become an individual worth remembering to a child. Money spent on a child can never replace time spent with a child, as memories are not built with dollar bills but by experiences shared. Material things always ultimately break, cease to function, fade, and/or decompose. Toys and gadgets can be stolen, left out in the rain, be run over while backing out of a driveway, and/or be worn out. Memories however, are a gift that not only keeps on giving; they can transfer skills and teach lessons. Memories can never be stolen and travel with us all of our lives. They can warm our hearts, bring joy in the remembering, and cause us to relive the love we were shown as children. Memories cannot be valued as they are truly priceless.

Memories of times shared can be as simple as a child looking to the stands or audience and seeing their parents face smiling in support. The more frequently this occurs, the more indelible and important this simple memory becomes.

Memories are sometime created by stressful incidents such as standing by a child’s side to offer guidance and support when they are in trouble. A hand on the shoulder and an encouraging word will promote healing as well as lessons and can turn a potentially bad memory into a fond memory.

Every child should have the opportunity to share and cherish good memories and every one of us should give thought to how we can increase the number of children who do. Father figures make-up for what they may lack in biological imperatives with heart and an over-abundance of love. Extending that heart and love to a fatherless child is a sign of a truly great man.

Father’s day should not be just a day for showing fathers and father figures appreciation; it is the perfect day for fathers and father figures to reflect on personal improvement. Perfection is an unattainable goal; however, if we fail to strive for perfection, we will never achieve self-actualization... but, that is just my opinion!

Writer Robert Collinsworth is an American who isn't hesitant to talk about the good side of his country, and that is a welcome thing in this day and age. Salem-News.com admittedly, is very critical of both American politics, as well as those of other nations that we perceive is being wrong in their motives and actions. At the same time, within these structures we criticize, are many outstanding people who make each day a better place for all those around them. They embody and personify the American spirit that is sometimes fleeting, but always present. These are some of the things Robert takes into account when writing commentary that is designed reach people, to "get them thinking" in his words, and indeed it does. Salem-News.com's goal is for all people to be on the same page, we appreciate Bob's more conservative approach toward that same goal."

You can write to Bob Collingsworth at this email address: colli2@webryders.net