I have been thinking a lot about fathers this year, maybe because the last few months we have spent more time with the men in our lives due to COVID restrictions, or maybe just because celebrating right now feels good and needed. Many might claim that a day to celebrate fathers is a materialistic ploy to sell Hallmark cards and mugs, but I would argue that fathers need to be recognized for the vital role they play in developing our children. I know in our home, we all love the man we call Dad. I have watched him balance his outside commitments with the ones that are attached to the little hands reaching up. Those little hands have grown over the years, bigger now, and reach out rather than up, but they still find a way to his heart.

Most of our children stand taller than their father today. Mostly they have surpassed him in their fashion sense, and have developed differing political views that make dinner time conversation robust. They hit a straighter and longer ball on the golf course for the most part. And mostly they can be convinced to join in on any surgical strike, which is really an adventurous boot camp that can then be bragged about for years.

We all tease him about his overly optimistic view of the miracles of duct tape or the fact that he still wears a suit to the office and takes his every other day run dressed in shorts, even in the cold of winter. And that no matter what, he thinks a piece, a book, or a sermon should and could be shorter. And don’t even think about taking his cell phone charger, and an only daughter, within our tribe, can get just about anything she wants. The teasing is really all about finding those unique qualities and quirks that set the father in our home apart from others, and lets him know that we love him, no matter what.

I will forever appreciate the fact that our children have someone who is a wonderful role model. He has always stood behind his beliefs with action and commitment. He continues to take on challenges, learn new skills, and give of his time to his family, to his work and to the organizations he feels are important. On his 50th birthday, one of our sons, 12 years old at the time, got up to make a toast; he said,

“I entered a contest last week. In it, I was tasked with describing the man I call Dad. I spoke of his work for the state of Connecticut, the time that he climbed Mount Everest, the flights that he took to transport children with cancer to hospitals safely, and about the teen center he helped create, and before I was halfway through, I realized, I might actually win this thing.”

There is no denying it, in our home a father’s love runs deep, and the honor and love he receives back may even be deeper. To celebrate our son’s graduation from college, I made a video (I will be talking about this video for a very long time), and when I played it, I watched the tears stream down the face of the man our children call Dad. What were these tears about? Years gone by too quickly, pride in a son’s achievement, and memories of teaching and prodding and guiding, and all of the things that add up to the making of a wonderful father. And I think our son was right - we did in fact win this thing.

Happy Father’s Day to all of the amazing dads out there. And to LSF, we love you!!!