Father's Year!

There are many stories how the custom of honoring Dads on a Sunday in June got started. The most popular story about the origins of Father's Day is said to have started growing its roots in the year of 1909. Mrs. John B. Dodds, from Spokane, Washington, campaigned for a Father's Day celebration. The idea came to her while she listened to a church sermon on the virtues of Mother's Day.

Mrs. Dodds thought about her own childhood, raised in a family of six children by a single father after the death of her mother. Mrs. Dodds thought of her father, who acted as both father and mother, and nurtured and cared for her and her siblings. There were many other fathers who selflessly gave of themselves to help take care of their own children, as well as provide for them financially too.

She wanted all fathers to be honored with a special day all their own. She campaigned and worked to spread her message, and even got the help of friends and family to write letters to influential people who could make this dream happen for her.
After much hard work, Father's Day was first celebrated in 1910. Mrs. Dodds wanted the date of the holiday to be on her father's birthday, which was the fifth of June. But the events had to be moved to the nineteenth of June so there would be enough time to prepare.

Over time, annual celebrations were held throughout the United States and Canada. In 1972 Richard M. Nixon signed a congressional resolution creating Father's Day in the United States.

In the years to follow it seems that the initial meaning of the holiday has transformed to just a marketing title for the retailers to sale merchandise. The real importance of fathers in the since seems to have been lost in the sauce! When I watch a sporting event such as football, when a player is honored for a good play such as a touchdown, when they are on camera they seem to always say,"Hi Mom!" Never, "Hi Dad!" I wonder why this is?

As a person who never knew his father, it is very important to me that fathers re assume their roles in family life as the head of the house, provider & protector. I was recently in a discussion in the barbershop I work & we talked about why is there so much fan fair for mothers on Mother's Day & not enough for fathers on ours?

I've come to the conclusion that women are more emotional than we are & the happier they are the happier the home will be! With men, our happiness is somewhat pride driven. When we see our life lessons we've tried to instill in our kids successfully put into practice, our hearts smile & our egos are super stroked! As a father myself through marriage, my kids are priority to me. I received the best Father's Day gift I could ask for when my son who is in basic training in the army was able to call & wish me a Happy Father's Day. What really pleased me was the initiative he took to enlist in the military to better himself & how he constantly tells me how he's glad I taught him certain things dealing with being a responsible man in society.

Anyway, in conclusion fathers ( and I am guilty of this) , let's stop complaining about us as fathers not getting enough recognition like the mothers do. Let our works, leadership, examples, devotion, provisions & training of our children be a tribute to a Happy Father's "Year" so we can look at the fruits of our labor on Father's "Day" & be proud! There in lies our most priceless gift...a successful child. HAPPY FATHER'S YEAR!

GREAT DAY TO BE ALIVE!