Evening star., 1938-08-08
Fathers Job
Important
His Understanding
And Comradeship
Are Necessary.
BY ANGELO PATRI,

IT TAKES two parents to create .
child, and both Of them are needed
to train and teach and develop the
child to the place where he can 60 his
own way, secure in his ability to hold
his place in the world.
Mothers always realize this and DO
their full share and more. Perhaps
this is because mothers keep the home
while fathers 60 out to earn what the
home costs to maintain. Even 50, the
children need their fathers care and
comradeship, his understanding lead
ership, his wise instruction in the way
Of life If they are to be well-rounded,
intelligent characters.
Father has a peculiar contribution
to make. 1t Is quite apart from any
mother can bestow. His nature is
masculine and his point OF view. his
experiences are broader and more prac-
tical in everyday give and take. closer
to actualities like competitive work,
human weaknesses, human needs, hui
man values put to the test in crude
emergencies Of business. Fathers are
wise where mothers are kind. and both
qualities are essential to the healthy
spiritual growth Of children.
Father Is always a source Of pride
to his children. MY father" Is the
proudest boast q child can make. Fa-
ther is source Of strength. MY IA
ther can do 1t. MY father will help
me-" are the comforting assurances
that real fatherliness gives children
One Of the greatest needs Of child
hood today is the spiritual under
standing that lifts everyday life out
OF the dead, dull level OF materialism.
beyond the drab ideas Of food and
shelter and clothes and getting along
in the world There is more to life
than that. More to bread than food,
more to clothes than covering, more 70
home than shelter, and 1t Is tits
More" the spiritual values impllr
in everyday living. that fathers can,
If they will, instill in the thinking and
behavior Of their children.
Father is the children's pattern.
What he does. they do, what he says
today, they believe tomorrow. If IA
ther will hold in his own mind the
realities of the spirit. the children will
reflect his attitude in their thinking
and behavior. Children need the sup
port that spiritual strength supplies
If they are to live with any degree of
happiness. They need to know rev.
erence for the works Of God. for His
way with us. They need to have faith
in the unseen power, goodness and
rightness Of God. They need to be
encouraged to feel more and to place
less reliance on what they zee. and
on what they think they know. Fa-
ther can lead them here.
Teaching children to know God. to
trust Him in all His ways. to live as
closely in accordance with His spirit,
Is beyond the skill Of ordinary people.
but that is no reason for not doing
the best we can. Nobody understands
God. Nobody can explain Him, But
everybody feels Him and everybody
lives in trust Of His loving kindness.
in the knowledge Of the beauty and
truth of His ways. Father can. tust
by doing their best to live to that idea.
lead their children to believe Il and
to follow It,
Father can be . good friend, . wise
leader, a fellow searcher after truth
and so be truly father to them. God
is the first Father and all other fathers
can claim fellowship with Him TO the
everlasting good Of their children.