Happy Father's Day To All

The great Mark Twain once said, “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

I remember reading this quote to my father when I had just turned 14. He laughed so hard he had to sit down. I’d never seen him laugh like that—and I never forgot it. Now, as a father myself, I laugh too. Because Twain was right. And my father was far wiser than I ever gave him credit for at the time.

Me and my greatest joys inside the top of the St. Louis Arch earlier this week

This Father’s Day, I’m filled with gratitude for the joy of being a father, and with grief in losing mine a few months ago. He would’ve been 75 on June 19. I carry him with me every day—in how I raise my children, how I love my family, how I try to live with principle, patience, and prayer. His lessons were never loud, but always loud enough to hear when I needed them most.

To every father and father figure—thank you. And to every single mom out there doing double duty, I see you and celebrate you too. This day belongs to you as well.

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Happy Father’s Day,

Qasim