Happy, Happy, Happy Father’s Day

Father’s Day takes a back seat to Mother’s Day and for a good reason.  Mother’s are showered with gifts, cards and flowers because they are mothers.  They receive rings for their fingers, necklaces for their neck, bracelets for their wrist, a new dress or a new pair of shoes.  Some may receive a car or expensive vacation, but it is for one reason and one reason alone…they are Mothers!

Mothers work hard, long hours.  They are taxi drivers for the children, the social secretary for the household, and in-house nurse.  Mothers are the cleaners, cookers, and Tudors.  A mother will work from sun up to sun down, never receiving a compliment, but when the complaints come are ready to rectify the situation, as best as humanly possible.  When their day comes, thought and time is placed upon the present they will receive. 

Father’s Day comes along and fathers receive whatever falls in the buggy.  You know, men, things that might mean, “It is the thought that counts.”  It may be a tie, the color of hospital Jell-O; or a wrench, or maybe even a set of new underwear.  I heard of one man who received a new set of tires for his tractor. (Come to think of it, that would be a hard thing to get to “fall into the buggy”)  Normally, though, whatever falls in the buggy at that big store we all cringe at the thought of going to, is what fathers will receive on their special day.  It is only because we are, well, fathers.

Bless my daddy’s heart; the things he received for Father’s Day were some of the most useless things one can ever imagine.  Our motto was always, “What do you get a man who has everything?”  We never knew what to get him.  One year I bought him a microwave; another I purchased him socks and an ugly tie.  For me, I wanted to do something nice for him, but for him a card was all he really wanted.  Sometimes, that was even difficult; but I did the best I could do.  But some father’s do get whatever falls in the buggy, but they deserve a great deal more…  

Father’s are there to assist and aid in the training of riding a bicycle, or teaching a teenager to drive, or standing at the door with car keys and an open wallet as the children go to a concert.  Fathers may be needed when something breaks, or comes apart, or to be put together.  A father is the one who cuts the grass, trims the hedges, and replaces shingles on the house.  Father is called in to consult on punishment for major offenses, or to give advice when asked.  So, when it comes time to give a gift, he gets whatever falls in the buggy.

            Often this is the way we treat our heavenly Father.  We call on Him when we are in need, when something breaks and needs to be put back together, or when we are in a real tight.  Those are the times we reach out to Him, seeking His intervention or advice; the rest of the time we just leave Him alone.  It is more important for many to know that He is there, waiting for them in their time of distress, while they play and romp when all things are working out their way.  I am a guilty as the next person.  Yep, I believe we could honestly say that we give him “whatever falls in the buggy.”

            Our heavenly Father desires to spend time with us, giving us comfort and cheer along the way.  He wants to share in the hard and difficult times of life, as well as in the good and grand times of life.  We are to cast our burdens on Him (Matthew 11:29-30) as His Son instructed us and we are to praise Him in the times of our life when all is well. (Psalm 34)

            Allow me to say with all honesty, my daughter makes everyday Father’s Day for me.  The moment she came into our lives, I knew the love of a wonderful, giving daughter.  The first time she called me “Daddy” melted my heart.  She desires time with her daddy, in the good and in the bad.  When she is happy, she wants to share time with daddy; when she is sad or hurt, daddy is the one she wants.  I am Superman, Batman, and Spiderman all rolled into one and she tells me all the time how much she loves her daddy.  Not only does she tell me; she shows me.  For me everyday is Father’s Day and on the one special day of the year set aside on the calendar, I am happy to get a card from my daughter, and even something special that might have “fallen into the buggy.”  Because it is the “thought that counts.”   

Yes, Father’s Day is here again, and I long to put my feet up, have my Sunday dinner delivered to me in the easy chair as I watch John Wayne movies all afternoon.  Yep that is what I want to do, but that is not what I will get to do.  But it is the “thought that counts,” right?

Until next time, Happy Father’s Day to all the Father’s out there and enjoy whatever the day may bring.