As the father of five and a grandfather of seven (almost eight!) I look forward to Father’s Day. When I reflect on my role as a father, I think it can be summed up as nurturing the love which is at the heart of our family.
As a husband and father, I think first of all my wife, Clare, who is central to our family. As a couple we have worked together to create a family which is pretty special – if I do say so myself! As parents, our love is the source of what energizes our family.
Clare and I have had our share of joys – births (including twins in two generations!), family camping, graduations, weddings, new jobs, etc., etc.
We have also had our share of tribulations – miscarriage, mental illness, death of a newborn grandson, job losses, and especially the death of our Kevin, a victim of drug addiction. The strength that comes to me as a father has certainly helped bear these trials.
The high school I taught at in Peterborough (St. Peter’s) has as its motto “Through Trials to Triumph”, and I have always thought that this sums up our family life and my role as a father. We have all suffered with and supported each other through various difficulties, and now as a family we enjoy a closeness which is special to us.
A very poignant confirmation of the success Clare’s and my life in creating family came as I followed Kevin’s coffin after his funeral. As we walked to his grave I had a very strong feeling of joy come upon me and I thought “We’ve done something right!” Despite the pain and sorrow of the moment, the outpouring of support from a huge variety of people – our friends (some of whom we hadn’t seen in ages) and many more friends of Kevin and of our other children made my spirit soar – "Yes, we've done something right – in the midst of this deep time of grief for a son whom we supported the best way we knew how."
On this Father’s Day I am very thankful for Clare, for our children and their spouses, and, of course our grandchildren.
I am blessed indeed!
Joe Keast, Archivist/Librarian for the Peterborough Sisters