I had to excuse myself from our monthly meeting scheduled last June 2, 2007 for the reason I’m sure every father would understand. A day before, at exactly 2:15 a.m. in the morning my first-born child was delivered thru CS by a team of competent doctors from Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital. I have had lots of happy moments in my life but becoming a father for the first time is beyond compare. So I savored every minute of it.
Honestly, I really planned to attend our monthly meeting on June 2, as scheduled. Although my wife underwent an unnatural childbirth, she was doing fine nonetheless. While the newborn was still in the nursery room as is customary in most hospitals after delivery, I was tempted to ask my wife to sneak out for a while to attend our meeting. But she refused. I obliged. But no regrets anyhow. Thank God, you (the Board) understood what a devoted father would feel in this important chapter of my life as a father.
I suppose every father (or mother for that matter) would feel the same way too. Becoming a father for the first time is such a tremendous feeling you would run out of words to describe it. The ecstasy you feel the moment you see your newborn for the first time somehow gives you a moment of eternal joy you want to last forever. The joy that I feel still lingers on despite the hospital bills that seem to overwhelm it. Thank God, my wife and our baby were both safe as I prayed hard every night and day.
Becoming a father means additional commitment to your family. An obligation you should never take for granted. Moreover, as in an organization, every decision you make is crucial to the well-being of all the members within your domain. That’s fatherhood.
