I'm not one to turn to the late night television shows for wisdom on parenting and Fatherhood. Most of the stuff that the late night comedians joke about is crass and undignified, not usually worth my time or yours.

So, I was pleasantly surprised to hear some incredibly profound words from comedian Arsenio Hall who recently returned to work producing a late night show for CBS which began this week. I think there are a lot of fathers in Kamloops who need to consider what Mr. Hall has to say. Even good Christian men residing within the church who may be tempted to think the grass is greener on the other side need to hear what Mr. Hall has to say.

The Arsenio Hall Show ran from 1989-1994 and featured Muhammad Ali to Madonna to President Clinton blowing his sax. It was the younger, hipper version of late night talk shows. Mr. Hall did remarkably well during his short run, and has largely spent the last nineteen years being a father to his kids full time, his financial situation being such that he has not needed to work.

Now he is returning and the question asked is, "Why?" Mr. Hall is not returning to make money, to make a return to the public spotlight, to gain notoriety or influence in the public square or even simply to improve himself as an artist. None of these things were considered in his decision to return to work. 

His reasons for returning to work were simple, yet very profound. He returned to work simply so his son could see him as a working man. He wants his son to grow up to be a man, and Mr. Hall is aware of the fact that he places a visible example before his son as a father. It is awareness of the example that he is setting for his son that lead Mr. Hall to go back to work. Read it for yourself:

"The bottom line is we're at that place now. You know, to be a man you got to see a man. And he's seen me very comfortable for 13 years always there at every game - every Little League game, every basketball game, every concert, every PTA meeting, every bake sale. Every Chuck E. Cheese event, I'm sitting there with all the moms. The bottom line is... The bottom line is he needs to see this side of fatherhood. He's seen that side of it. He needs to see me fall asleep at night too tired to continue watching "Family Guy" with him. He needs to see a dad who has to leave and can't always make it to things. That's part of being a man, that's part of fatherhood too, and I wanted to have that aspect of seeing me and being me."

You can read the whole thing for yourself here. Fathers, listen to the voice of truth. Be a man. Work hard. Have honor and dignity in your job, and set an example for your children to follow. Those little eyes are looking up to you, so be a good shepherd to your children.