Fathers, you are very important…

King David, Dr. Dr Martin Luther King, Lien Ying Cho, Narayana Murthy, Lee Kuan Yew, Azim Hasham Premji….

What do they have in common?

I am sure I can name a few more, if I did my research … many whose names we cannot identify.

These were / are men who left behind a vision or mission for their children, particularly their sons.

If we examine the legacy left behind by those who have since passed on eg such as King David of Judah and the like, we can see how such fathers had taken the time, through conscious effort and great intent, made sure that their children heard the struggles of the family from of old and instilled in them the hope of the forefathers.

It would be quite common in such families to hear of the journeys taken by their ancestors, shared typically at all celebratory occasions. The new generation of yesteryears would not have a chance of being in a vacuum, they would know of the hope set by their forefathers. They would be inspired to continue the legacy and continue to pass down the family traditions….

We do not seem to hear of such inter-generational familial traditions anymore. Some might say such traditions are passé. Is it really?

What can we learn from the recent generations? More of listlessness, aimlessness, lack of a vision and lack of a sense of hope. Everything is short term and transitionary, without a sense of permanence.

So tradition is not all bad. I truly believe that had my grandfather told my father who in turn told me so I could tell my children and grandchildren, about the journey of the family, their history, their struggles, their desired destiny, I would continue the tradition. Of course, this did not happen. I don’t know the legacy left behind by my ancestors. I have heard bits and pieces but nothing that helps me to restore the hope or to pursue the hope.

So fathers, while you work very hard to bring bread to the table, remember it is not in the brand of the bread, the number pieces of bread, or even the crockery / cutlery used for the bread that your children will thank you. Those have no generational values. But what you leave behind as a legacy and the inspiration you leave with your children for their children – a story to be told over and over again, without hesitation - is a far more important responsibility than financial wellness.

Do you have a story to tell, to repeat and to pass down the generation?