Posted on 06/19/2005 9:13:29 AM PDT by DoughtyOne
I didn't want to be guilty of letting this day pass without a special salute to the fathers on this forum.
All too often Dad's are the invisible champions in our society. If they are portrayed in the media, they are most generally used as the butt of jokes or a prop to make someone else look superior.
This is your day Dads. Thanks for stepping up and taking on the challenge.
I'd like to see this thread used by folks to champion their fathers, spouses, brothers or other special dads that have made a difference in your life, the lives of other family members or even friends.
I'll be back in a few hours to place my thoughts about my own dad here. By then I hope to see many heartwarming stories about other great dads.
Right now I'm off to see my wife's dad. This afternoon I'll be seeing my own. In-between, I'll place some comments here about my own dad.
Happy Father's Day!
Very cool bud. Those are special moments to be sure.
Wow you had a great time. Later this year, your dad will have a reminder. Good call...
When your dad looked back on his memories of you, I'm betting every one of them seemed like they took place in a special place, probably a lot like a club-house.
That's really great. Not only do you have some great memories, but they're helping to make sure you all capture new ones.
All the best EGD.
That's a good point. This is probably something each of us should contribute to.
Great story. Runaways don't seem to go too well.
I'll bet he loves those lures.
Good words...
You're welcome, and thanks to you Gabz.
My dad loved to fish also. I still remember that great big smile I had when I caught that 8.5 inch Perch and thought I was king of the world, because it was the biggest fish of the day. Catching fish isn't the bigget payoff by any means.
Was not his fault, but made for a hard childhood.
I was blessed that my sister got a good man for a husband; and he showed me how to be a good father (I hope).
He had a good death, and reconcliled with all his family.
Great comments Morman...
I was a high school wrestler also, although not a particularly stellar one. I goofed off too much.
Nice pictures... thanks.
Thanks Redwood99.
It's nice to see how your father lives on in you. Great comments!
Father's Day, contrary to popular misconception, was not established as a holiday in order to help greeting card manufacturers sell more cards. In fact when a "father's day" was first proposed in America there were no Father's Day cards!
Now, depending on who you believe, the first “Father’s Day” was either in 1908 or 1910. Here are two of the most commonly accepted stories:
Mrs. John Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Mr. Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth with their sixth child. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington State. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the strength and selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. So supposedly the first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington.
A second origin cited is slightly less known -- the Methodist church in Fairmont WV has a sign declaring the "First Father's Day July 5, 1908", beating the Dodd claim. That date was six months after the huge coal mine disaster of December 6, 1907, which killed at least 361 men – the largest mine disaster in American history.
Regardless, early in the last century Americans were beginning to celebrate a "father's day." In 1924 President Coolidge gave support to the idea of a national Father's Day. In 1966 President Johnson signed a proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.
Strangely, it has become a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. These days stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are sometimes also honored on Father's Day. Perversely, well, even today's Washington Post Sunday magazine chose today to honor an even different kind of fatherhood.
But really, doesn’t Father’s Day go back to creation? When our triune God said “let us make man in our own image”?
The Bible calls fathers to: love, command, instruct, guide and warn, train, rebuke, restrain, punish, chasten, nourish, supple the needs of, and to do not provoke their children. Hasn’t our heavenly Father been perfect in those respects!
Like Mrs. Dodd, maybe we don’t realize the strength and selflessness of our fathers, and of our Father, until we get the perspective of adulthood.
So children, honor your earthly father, as was commanded by God to Moses and the Israelites. And congregation, lets honor God our Father now, with our tithes and offerings.
Father, our gifts are small, especially compared to your love. We were created by Your will, and not by our own. Thanks Abba – daddy – for loving us so much. Amen.
Yes freeper Dads---Happy one to you. Dads are soooo wonderful. They are often unfortunately neglected in this mom centered society we live in.
I myself miss saying it to my dad.
Another set of great comments...
Thanks. I appreciate them. Good advise.
Heh, heh, heh...
Here's the early congratulations. I'm very happy for you!
...and of course the Mrs.
Thank you CyberAnt. The fact that you are here is a tribute to him. I'm sure he would be very proud.
I'm sorry to hear this. Please accept my heart-felt condolences. As I said to CyberAnt, your dad inspired you, and now you participate on a forum that heralds wholesome values. He does live on as long as you at least try to live up to his highest ideals. I didn't know him, but I appreciate what a great job he did raising you.
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