Ed Space
Mother Teresa was once asked what people could do to promote world peace. Her response?
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"Go home and love your family," the revered missionary said.
Beautiful response. And so true.
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The more homes that are warm, loving and supportive environments the better off the world is, right?
So in essence, if we want to make the world a better place, we can start by being a better father, mother, sister, brother, husband or wife. At home, with the people we care for most, we want to be the best versions of ourselves.
On Sunday we will pause for a little moment and celebrate the role of fathers in our lives with Father's Day 2020.
As the father to two gorgeous, growing girls, I don't doubt for a second that "dad" will be the most important role in my lifetime.
For Father's Day last year our youngest girl gave me a card which simply carried the words "I wouldn't trade you even for a rabbit".
Pretty cool, huh? I'm not sure there has been a sentence I've read which held more personal satisfaction or significance.
I reminded young Holly of that card this week when it bobbed up on my Facebook memories.
"I'd think about trading you for a dog though," came the brutal, updated response.
Her way of keeping me grounded. Fair enough. Well played.
It was four years ago on Father's Day, the O'Brien clan lost our father. Victor Wallace O'Brien was a loving father and husband, who together with our unbelievable mother, raised seven kids who I can report all grew up to be pretty damn decent people.
He was a hard-working family man. Work and family were his two great loves in life and that never wavered. As a father, he was a wonderful role model and that is ultimately what us fathers need to be for our children.
The more of us who strive for that, using Mother Teresa's principle, the better the world will be. The biggest impact we can have is on those closest to us.
Or as Mother Teresa said: "Never worry about numbers. Help one at a time, and always start with those nearest you."
Happy Father's Day dads.
Julian O'Brien is the editor of the Illawarra Mercury
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