It kind of occurred to me today--on mother's day, leaders spend so much time trying to be politically correct and sensitive. Although we're happy to celebrate mothers, we know that we must be careful--so many women were never married through no wrong of their own, or were unable to have children. So much energy is put into emphasizing that that all women are mothers in the church, through the work they do each day. Their influence includes all the children that they interact with--and they will have children in the next life.
On the opposite side, Father's day is about just that--fathers! And from the people around me, it seems like if you're not a father, then oh well it isn't your holiday, big deal.
Is this just another societal convention basically saying that women are weak and need protection whereas men shouldn't have feelings and ought to just tough it out? I think the majority of the worrying about being sensitive to it is worrying that women will leave crying--thus this censorship, tip-toeing around a reality--it inspired by the behavior of women.
By what about the guys? Does infertility really affect men less? I know that a lot of women who deal with it feel like they're missing out on an essential part of womanhood, that they've failed their husband. Do men not share this feeling? If so, is it caused by a social expectation that women=babies and men=bachelors=freedom and happiness? I don't know--I just find the discrepant odd.
I was reading over at FMH and Reese-Dixon was talking about how since her father didn't have a good impact on her life, her father's day talk would be directed about our Heavenly Father. In her situation I think I would have focused on what fathers in general *can* do, how they, along with their wife, can jointly lead their children toward choices that will make them happy. I know that R-D is married, so I find it interesting that she didn't take that path. One commenter praised her talk on the merit that it wasn't another talk saying how awesome men are. Don't get me wrong, I think that women are just as good, just as important, as men. But when I get up there on mother's day, I'm going to go in there and talk about how amazing my mother is and what a good influence she has been on my life. Mothers in general are an inspiration. So why not fathers? Although moms are unappreciated, so are dads, sometimes.
Happy Fathers' Day to all and I hope that you can remember all that *both* of your parents have done for you!
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