Because that is what Father's do...

Father's Day is nearly here, and while this day isn’t a large celebration for Amish families, fatherhood itself is celebrated year-round.  In an Amish community, large families are considered a blessing from God, so the father, or the head of the household with a large family, is respected within the community. With this blessing, of course, comes great responsibility, providing for such a family. The man is the breadwinner, the provider, the worker both at home and out until the children are old enough to help provide. 

One such example is an Amish father who is essential to the day-to-day operations here at The Amish Trading Post, Jake. Jake is a hard worker with 13 children ranging from less than a year to 17 years old. Jake is a carpenter by trade but wears many hats, farmer, repairman, and whatever else is needed at the time. As Jake leaves for the day, he lets his older children know what needs to be done around the farm to help their mother, who stays home taking care of the younger children, as well as business that may happen throughout the day. Typically, Jake brings one or two of his boys with him to work. This going to work with dad is looked at as a responsibility and a treat that is met with excitement and reverence because this is a sign that the children are growing up. To the father, bringing them to work is not just an extra part of taking care of them or taking a load off their mother, but teaching them the value and skills of a hard day's work. These boys are not given menial, unimportant tasks, but essential jobs required to accomplish the project at hand. Just last week, Jake was building a hay barn; he brought two of his younger sons, ages 8 and 11, for a couple of days. On these day’s the boys were referred to as “the handers,” whatever their father needed up on the high roof of this hay barn, one boy found on the ground and put it in the bucket of the equipment while the other was up high with his father handing him the tools. In 2025 American culture, working with these young boys up high constructing something would be considered too dangerous, but not to an Amish father. This work up high was just that, raising these young men to a higher level to accomplish what needs to be done, because that is what fathers do. 

Fathers are met with love and respect from these Amish families in ways that we do not quite understand in our fast-paced, “English” world. For example, on the way home, Jake gets ice cream, he eats the first part, and then when he returns home, all his children line up in front of the house, excited to see him coming down the drive. He then hands the ice cream to the oldest, and they all pass it around, getting a little treat. The father also gets the first bath and first plate at dinner as a sign of respect and gratitude for the essential role they play in the family. So, while there may not be large cookouts and gifts of grandeur for one Sunday in June, the role of a good father is not to be forgotten in an Amish household. This honor and respect given to good fathers by the Amish people is, in their eyes, like the honor and respect they daily give to their good heavenly Father. 

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.