Most fathers know that fatherhood can be the source of life’s greatest joy and its deepest satisfaction. Of course, they again know that no work demands more of their energy or more of their heart. It takes time and effort to do fatherhood well.

Knowing all of this, it can be hard for a well-intentioned father to know if his limited time and less-than-perfect efforts are making a difference. For such fathers, these words of counsel from two wise, experienced fathers may help:

One said, “Moments are the molecules that make up eternity!” And another observed: “It is not so much the major events as the small day-to-day decisions that map the course of our living. … Our lives are, in reality, the sum total of our seemingly unimportant decisions and of our capacity to live by those decisions.”

It could be that the best way for a father to bless and influence his children is by doing simple things with them, day to day, over and over: playing, washing dishes, weeding the garden, working on homework: just being together. Lasting memories are built in moments like these. Each daily decision to set a good example, to live with integrity, to love with loyalty, and to spend time together strengthens the bond between father and child. Surely there’s no better use of a father’s energy, heart, and time.

Yes, fatherhood comes with its sorrows and heartache as deep and poignant as its joys. But when a father has invested himself in the small daily moments, he doesn’t give up easily. He keeps loving, keeps trying, keeps being there for his family. Such efforts may seem insignificant at the time, but eternity is composed of these simple moments, and they add up to some of the deepest, most lasting joys that heaven grants us on earth.

For nearly 40 years, a father worked hard in a cement factory floor to provide for his family. The work was difficult, hot, and gritty, with changing shifts and long hours. He may have wished he had pursued a different line of work or that he had better options. But he felt a deep sense of duty and responsibility. So every morning he got up and went to work and somehow managed to do it with a good attitude.

This father represents countless others who work hard to provide for their families; they labour day in and day out to give their loved ones a good life.

While there’s certainly a lot of joy in fatherhood, being a father means doing things you’d really rather not do. Fathers make sacrifices.

From home repairs to car repairs, from doing yardwork to helping with homework; in a 100 different ways, they simply do what needs to be done. They set aside selfish desires and instead find joy in blessing their family. So instead of enjoying a quiet night at home, they support their children to prepare for daily activities and plays, sporting and school events. Instead of watching a favourite television programme, they go outside and play or work on a science project with their son. Instead of reading the newspaper, they puzzle over maths homework or read a book with their daughter.

In a day when people are encouraged to “find your passion” and “do your own thing,” it might be worth remembering those fathers who roll up their sleeves, go to work, and do things they may not particularly like because they love their family and because they are responsible and dependable.

All this is not easy, but it has never been easy to be a good father. Most do their very best, even as they make mistakes along the way. But they give and keep giving. They care and keep caring. They build strong bonds of love. And in the process, they do find their passion after all but it isn’t in doing their own thing. They become passionate about serving the loved ones who depend on them. And this becomes their greatest legacy.

BY SAMUEL ENOS EGHAN