While mothers have had their special day since 1914, fathers have recently officially received the recognition they so richly deserve. After all, Dad is the pillar of the family unit, the one who made us feel safe, the one who loved to tickle and tease, and above all, gave us a sense of security. While mom was the pillow to fall on, dad was the rock that held us up. These are some thoughts and facts about Father’s Day, dedicated to all the men who proudly bear the name DAD.

origins

In 1909, listening to a sermon on Mother’s Day, Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd was inspired by the efforts of Anna Jarvis and felt there should be a Father’s Day too. Her father, Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, had raised his six children as a single father in Spokane, Washington, after his wife’s death. She initially suggested June 5, the anniversary of her father’s death, however, she did not give the organizers enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was postponed to the third Sunday in June. Unofficial support from figures like William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread. Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holiday in 1924, but the all-male United States Congress was aware that passing such a male-friendly measure could be seen as a conflict of interest. In 1926, the National Father’s Day Committee met for the first time in New York City. Lyndon Johnson made Father’s Day a holiday in 1966, but the holiday was not officially recognized until the presidency of Richard Nixon in 1972 when he enacted a permanent Father’s Day law in the US to be observed on the third Sunday. of June.

Inspiring words

When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant that he could hardly bear to have the old man around. But when I turned twenty-one, he amazed me how much the old man had learned in seven years. -Mark Twain

I’m sure we all remember our teenage years and how true and insightful this statement by Mark Twain is. Here’s another one of my favorites:

No matter who was my father; matter who I remember he was. -Anne Sexton

What is a dad? I’m sure not everyone would respond in exactly the same way, but this poem by an unknown author seems to sum it up nicely.

What makes a dad? -A stranger

God took the strength of a mountain,

The majesty of a tree,

The heat of a summer sun,

The calm of a calm sea,

The generous soul of nature,

The consoling arm of the night,

The wisdom of the ages,

The power of the eagle’s flight,

The joy of a spring morning,

The faith of a mustard seed,

The patience of eternity,

The depth of a family need,

So God combined these qualities,

And then there was nothing more to add,

He knew his masterpiece was complete,

And so, He called him – Dad.

Perhaps the most important thing a father can give us is love. Hold on to your memories of youth. Those things your father did that made you feel so special and loved. My favorite memory is of my father coming into my room one night when I was crying. He was so worried even though to him, my problem must have seemed insignificant. When he left I was happy and the world was a brighter place. Many of us have these kinds of memories.

excerpt of the song dance with my father

Artist: Luther Vandross

As a child, before life took away all the innocence

My father would lift me up high and dance with my mother and me and then

Spin me until I fall asleep

Then up the stairs he would take me

And I knew for sure that I was loved

If I could have another chance, another walk, another dance with him

I’d play a song that would never, never end

How I would love, love, love

Dance with my father again.

Be sure to let your dad know how much you love and appreciate him this Father’s Day.

sources – wikipedia.org, Compton Interactive Encyclopedia 1997