I heard several good talks in church today on fatherhood and the role and place of fathers in the family and in society.  Strong fathers DEFINITELY make a huge impact on the well being of individual families and society in general. Where fathers become less significant or lose sight of their important role....societies go downhill rapidly according to family research.

In the two talks I heard today (both given by women, mothers)............one of them quoted the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1979 but I did not get down the entire quote.  But the first line was really powerful.....

" Fatherhood is leadership."  (so is motherhood, by the way!  But this talk was focused on fathers since it is Father's Day.)

I have always thought that was true.  Effective fathers cannot afford to be passive or inactive.  I could safely say from my own experience as a father and grandfather (and from having observed many others) that "fatherhood is also proactive".......

Effective fathers ANTICIPATE was is going to happen in their families over weeks and months that lie on the road ahead.  They COUNSEL with the rest of the family to determine a FAMILY ACTION PLAN that they will follow TOGETHER...so that the development and well being of their family happens according to something PRE-PLANNED and pre-considered in family council under the direction of both parents if there are two parents in the home.   

DO NOT LEAVE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN YOUR FAMILY TO CHANCE........the parents and the children should hold regular "family councils" to talk about their family values (what is important to all of them in the family) and what steps they ALL need to take TOGETHER to insure that those family values produce observable positive outcomes in the family.

Hope this gives you some good ideas you can discuss together. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.......and to the many dads who have finished their work in this life..... Have a nice day. Jim