{"id":25379,"date":"2025-06-12T08:00:27","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T12:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/?p=25379"},"modified":"2025-06-07T16:41:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-07T20:41:42","slug":"a-fathers-day-reflection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/2025\/06\/a-fathers-day-reflection.html","title":{"rendered":"A Father’s Day Reflection"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Happy Father\u2019s Day!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I recognize that not everyone has a great relationship with their father. Father wounds are real and can run deep. But no matter your story, I want to gently encourage you this Father\u2019s Day: take a moment to reflect on your father and try to identify\u00a0at least one thing he gave you as a gift. For some, the list will be long. For others, it may take effort and grace. Still, Scripture calls us to\u00a0honor our fathers\u00a0(Exodus 20:12), and sometimes that begins with choosing to see even a single thread of goodness in a complicated relationship.<\/p>\n

At the time of this writing, my father is deceased. I was fortunate. He lived to be almost 98 years-old. I miss him in my life. He gave me so much\u2014some of it I recognized early, some I\u2019ve come to appreciate more with time.<\/p>\n

I carry\u00a0so many fond memories\u00a0of my dad. He was hardworking, steady, strong, and fun. He taught me lessons I didn\u2019t even know I was learning at the time.<\/p>\n

The Joy of Adventure<\/strong><\/p>\n

My dad taught me how to\u00a0have fun, how to\u00a0relax, and how to\u00a0explore. Every summer, our family would load up the big Buick and hit the open road, discovering America one roadside attraction at a time. Some stops were cheesy, sure\u2014but most were filled with awe, laughter, and the joy of being together. He gave us the gift of\u00a0seeing the world beyond ourselves.<\/p>\n

The Gift of Presence<\/strong><\/p>\n

He was present. My dad\u00a0showed up\u2014to every recital, every school play, every music competition. Even when he nodded off during long piano recitals (and we noticed!), he was there. He endured the nightly practice of three musically ambitious children and never once complained. His message was clear:\u00a0What mattered to us mattered to him.<\/em><\/p>\n

The Power of Encouragement<\/strong><\/p>\n

My dad\u00a0pushed me to grow. At times, it felt like too much, but I always knew his heart. He wanted more for me\u2014more opportunity, more freedom, more education than he had. He believed deeply in the power of learning and hard work. And I am who I am today, in part, because he believed in me before I believed in myself.<\/p>\n

A Legacy of Faith<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perhaps most importantly, my dad passed down a quiet but unwavering\u00a0faith. He never sought the spotlight, but he served the church faithfully\u2014teaching Sunday school, fixing things no one else noticed, and offering quiet wisdom. He modeled\u00a0humility,\u00a0perseverance, and a deep\u00a0love for the body of Christ, even when church life was messy. When conflicts arose, we stayed. We worked through them. That\u2019s what commitment looked like to him.<\/p>\n

Imperfect but Important<\/strong><\/p>\n

No earthly father is perfect. Mine wasn\u2019t. Yours wasn\u2019t either. But this Father\u2019s Day, whether you\u2019re planning a special dinner, buying a new tie, or simply saying a quiet prayer, take time to\u00a0reflect on what your father gave you\u2014the good, the hard, and everything in between. Sometimes, the greatest gifts come wrapped in ordinary moments.<\/p>\n

And if your earthly father left you more pain than joy, remember this:\u00a0You have a Heavenly Father who loves perfectly, who heals deeply, and who never leaves. That is the Father whose love restores and redeems every broken story.<\/p>\n

What did your father give you?
\nEven one small thing can be the seed of gratitude\u2014and a step toward healing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Happy Father\u2019s Day! I recognize that not everyone has a great relationship with their father. Father wounds are real and can run deep. But no matter your story, I want to gently encourage you this Father\u2019s Day: take a moment to reflect on your father and try to identify\u00a0at least one thing he gave you…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":419,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[914],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25379","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-family-relationships-2"],"yoast_head":"\nA Father's Day Reflection<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I encourage you this Father\u2019s Day: take a moment to reflect on your father and try to identify\u00a0at least one thing he gave you as a gift.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/doinglifetogether\/?p=25379\" \/>\n<meta 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