Father’s Day
Once each year Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. Not even a day off from work for most and ranked considerably behind Mother’s Day as well as most other gift giving Holidays in spending.
So here’s to the quiet heroes who can claim the title of “father”. His attributes are often overlooked because what he does is without a desire for recognition.
He is the man who:
- says he is not really hungry so the family can share the dinner meat
- forgoes a new suit so his children have new shoes
- goes to work even when he feels sick to support his family
- does something with his family even though he might want to do something for himself
- helps others before himself
- listens more than he talks
- displays kindness in lieu of anger
- gives advise instead of orders
- his family knows he cares because he does
- his actions demonstrate his character
- he has friends because he knows how to be one
- he loves instead of judging
- he disciplines to teach
- he teaches out of love and not authority
- he may not be rich from a worldly standpoint but his legacy will live through his children
- the respect he has is earned
He acts like the goofy tie he receives on Father’s Day is the greatest gift that could be given. He even wears it to church.
All these things he does, not to edify himself or out of a sense of sacrifice, but because he is a Real Father and a Real Man.
At the end of his time it is my prayer that his children will have attained the wisdom to see him as he really is.
John Ritchie
2011.6
Now, here is the personal version to my dad.
My memories of you…
- You not only provided a place for us to spend summers at the beach, you drove 4 hours after work on Friday to see me
- I woke you up at the crack of dawn so you wouldn’t waste swimming time
- All the other kids looked forward to your coming because you stayed in the water for hours so we could swim in the deep water. I am sure mom appreciated that when you were almost too tired to go to dinner with her
- You went on the pier to fish with me for hours, even though you did not take a fishing pole
- At home, you brought what seemed to be a feast of hotdogs to the pool on Sunday night
- You firmly encouraged me to wear the matching red pajamas with a good attitude that mom so proudly gave us at Christmas (you wore yours as well to be a good example)
- You were always available to help my friends if they had late night car trouble without telling on them
- You paid for me and my college friends to come home and play golf and use your cart until the battery was dead
- It was always a treat when you could play with us
- When we finished golf you took us to the roast beef buffet. I remember the night we ate a whole side of beef and when you told the manager we were all your sons, he let us eat free
- You provided for my education
- You enjoyed the all you could eat buffet with my college friends and we enjoyed your company
- You were the care keeper for mom for her 3 ½ year battle with cancer
- I can call on you at any time for advise with no fear of criticism
- I consider you my friend
