Fatherhood

A Father’s Day reflection between Father, Son, and Grandson

By Joseph R. Hill

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As we celebrate Father’s Day this year, I have many reflections on fatherhood that have inspired me. I will be remembering my father, my role as a father, my son as a father and now my role as a grandfather.

To begin, my father was a very proud Christian man. He loved God, his family, life, and seeing the wonders of the world around us. He had a passion for golf and played as frequently as possible. My father passed away many years ago and I am honored to follow in his footsteps as a father, and now a grandfather, or Papa as I am known by my grandson.

My father was an Army veteran who served his country for over 25 years. During his early years in the service, he married my mother his hometown sweetheart and they started a family. Upon his retirement from the Army, my father went to college, earned advanced degrees and became a lifelong teacher. All of this was possible because of his faith and trust in God, and the love he had for his family. 

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My father didn’t just speak wisdom, he lived it. He taught through example, patience, and the quiet strength that comes from a life anchored in God.

My father was a life teacher in the truest sense. Not the kind that just lectured, but the kind who showed me how to stand on principle, and how to work, how to learn, how to be respectful, and how to keep going when life gets hard.
The lessons he taught me were also reflected in the way he carried himself, the way he treated others respectfully, and his dedication to his church. His encouragement still echoes in my decisions and throughout my character today.

As I reflect on this Father’s Day, I am honored to follow in my father’s footsteps. I am experiencing great joy watching my son step into his new role of fatherhood with his son.
Becoming a grandfather has caused me to reflect more about my father, my relationship with my son, and the kind of relationship I want to establish with my grandson. Watching my son step into fatherhood has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. In these early formulative years of my grandson’s life, I see the same strength, patience, and love that I saw in my father. My son is becoming the kind of father who shapes his child’s world with steady hands and a faithful heart. Son, your grandfather would be proud.

Being a father is hard work. It stretches you, humbles you, strengthens you, and teaches you more about love than you ever expected. It’s not about perfection, it’s about presence. It’s about showing up when you’re tired, guiding others, loving and leading with a steady hand. As a father, you want to be someone a child can trust, learn from and look up to. Fatherhood also involves making quiet decisions and putting your family first before yourself. It is not defined by a single moment, but by a lifetime of patience, strength, and love. 

When I look at my grandson, I see pure love, innocence, joy, and the wonderment of discovery around him. When I see him, I also realize that I am looking at our third generation: my father’s lessons in me, my lessons instilled in my son, and now the next generation to carry it all forward.

Over time I have come to understand that fatherhood is less about having all the answers and more about being consistent, attentive and grounded in your values. It’s about knowing your children will be shaped more by what you do than by what you say. Every word, every action matters in your children’s lives. Being a father is one of life’s greatest responsibilities and one of God’s greatest blessings.

Reflecting, I can only imagine what my father felt when he witnessed me becoming a first-time father to my son.

Pride and joy I bet!
All the wisdom, knowledge, and love that he carried was passed on to me and I have passed on to my son. Rooted in faith, love, and responsibility, it is my hope that our sons and daughters will benefit from the wisdom and strength passed down to them from fathers and grandfathers.
I am proud of my father; I am proud of my son becoming a father and I am overjoyed to be a grandfather.

Thank you Dad, as I have been truly blessed to have you guiding me into fatherhood.

Happy Father’s Day,
Joseph R. Hill