In light of Father’s Day approaching, I decided to write this article about fathers. Fathers play a huge role in their children’s lives. My father taught me that a true gentleman always holds the door open for a lady and that if a lady is cold, a guy should give her his jacket. He taught me that a baseball game is not about who wins or loses – it’s about enjoying the weather, the company, and the atmosphere. My dad taught me that night crawlers are the best bait for reeling in the big catch. He also taught me to give and give freely without expecting anything in return. The lesson he taught me that sticks out to me the most as I write this article is: No matter how broke something is, daddy can always make it right… or at least break his back trying.
In my line of work, the reason this lesson resonates with me is because I see a lot of men try to be the strong, sturdy, rock on which his family stands; to be the fixer of broken hearts and the mender of flat tires. So what is he to do when HE is broken? What happens when he has a heart attack and has no insurance to cover the medical bills? What happens when he loses his job and can’t find another job before his unemployment runs out? Well, most men will try everything they can to pay their bills and find another job. They will endure harassing phone calls, have their checks garnished, and even lose a home or vehicle in the process before they give up fighting to fix the situation. It doesn’t have to be that way.
What my hypothetical dad doesn’t understand is that he doesn’t have to do it alone. There is a system that has been put into place to help people get a fresh start after unfortunate circumstances arise. There are attorneys, such as myself, who are willing and WANT to help people get this fresh start and get their family back on track. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. For those who think it is, I ask you these questions: If an elderly person fell and broke a bone, is it weak of them to ask for help? If a child doesn’t know how to tie their shoe and asks for help to tie their laces so they don’t trip and fall, does that make him or her weak? The answer to both of these questions is no. Neither is it a sign of weakness to ask for help by utilizing a system that was put into place to help people wipe the slate clean financially. It is a sign of humility, which is the essence of strength. What a great example for fathers to teach their children: That it is okay to say, “I need help” and then to take the hand extended to you and pick yourself back up. That is what great fathers teach their children.