Celebrating Father's Day

FAMILY: Celebrating Father's Day

My husband on his birthday last December, with his grandkids.

This coming Sunday, June 20, the world will celebrate all fathers and fatherhood. Nowadays, we celebrate almost everyone--we have the Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day, Children's Day (International, Universal, and World), and of course, the Father's Day. Were these celebrations just made up by retailers and restaurateurs so that they can earn more? Well, according to Wikipedia, this a day to honor fathers, celebrate fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society. Do you know that this day was not thought of by a man but by a woman named, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington? In 1910, this lady, whose mother died when she was 16 and was afterward taken cared of by her Dad, William Jackson Smart, together with her 5 younger brothers, heard of a preacher's sermon about the newly recognized Mother's Day and later pursued the recognition of Father's Day in honor of her own Dad. She was actually the Mother of Father's Day. So, if we count the years, this June 20th, 2010 is the Centennial (100) Year celebration of Father's Day.
Truly, we cannot ignore the relevance of fatherhood, not only biologically or physiologically, but also, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Our biological Dads may not be at all perfect, but he is the one who gave his seed that we may be born and have life in this world. To many daughters who are their father's princesses, their Dads are their tower of strength and security, and the closeness of their relationship is beyond measure. To many sons, their father is their perfect example, an idol to pattern their life with, a man to look up to and a best friend to depend on. There are also fathers who are not physiologically-related to us but who are our mentors or teachers in various areas of our life--whether it be in our education, in a special field like in sports (a coach), or in our spirituality like our ministry head or our pastor or priest.

Before my step-daughter Malu's wedding, the sons and daughters with spouses and some of the "apos".

Here's my own Dad with his wife and my daughter, Toni

Happy Father's Day to my husband, my Dad, and to all the fathers out there. One special father of all that we need to honor is our Father in heaven who is the Father of us all. Thank You, Father, for the fathers You have given us and blessed us with. Amen.

Thursday, June 17, 2010