It is the most difficult job I’ve ever had, yet the easiest at the same time.

A few weeks ago, to honor that special day for mothers, I shared a well-circulated job description for moms. I don’t have one that explains what it means to be a father but most of us — whether we are one ourselves or are thankful for the one we have — don’t need a description at all.

The role doesn’t come with a manual. There is no three-week crash course. There is no YouTube video that gives it to you in step-by-step directions. But there is the innate knowledge that is ingrained in us as human beings.

I believe that men know when we are doing the right thing or not when it comes to being a father. It is just a matter of choosing the right path rather than the selfish one.

And, of course, many of us have a template we can use by patterning ourselves after our own fathers and others who may have been instrumental in our lives, people we see stand out at the job.

Those of us who do have good fathers in our lives should be thankful for it and express our gratitude for all they have done.

Just like that job description for being a mother, a father’s role comes with lousy pay, lots of worry, many sleepless nights and lots of hard work.

But it also comes with the greatest rewards.

Nothing can describe the feeling when your son or daughter looks at you with big innocent eyes and says, “I love you Daddy.” You can’t put a price on that.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads who do a great job and give me something for which to strive.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com.