Father’s Day: A New and Better Celebration

Posted on by Michele Morin

Sunday Scripture

For me, Round One was not such that I would have predicted a mushy Father’s Day blog post in my future.

(Who would have ever predicted blogs, anyway?)

My experience with this Hallmark holiday was aptly described by author, Leslie Leyland Fields:

Some will turn away from thirty minutes at the card rack empty-handed and sad.”

Then, miracle of miracles, I said, “Yes, I do,” and four years later I was living, again, with a Dad — only this time?

This time the Dad is imperfectly — but faithfully — taking his cues from a heavenly Father.  This changes everything.  It changes every day life, and it changes Father’s Day.  I’m thankful from the bottom of my heart to be celebrating a dad who says:

“There’s no place I’d rather be than with my family.”

The Lord your God in your midst,The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

However, family time doesn’t just happen!  Someone has to make a plan for it.

“Hey, it’s time for a beach day!”

Pack the sturdy shovels, load a cooler stuffed with food to last the whole day, build a drift wood fortress “better than everyone else’s,” and the day will always be a memory-maker.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

The truth is that full coolers and size 12 shoes and piano lessons and home school curriculum come at a cost, but when the Real Dad goes to the grocery store with a list including flour, he comes home with twenty pounds.  When he talks to the farmer down the road, he makes arrangements to buy a freezer full of meat.

“If one job doesn’t pay the bills, I’ll get two . . . or even three!”

. . . let your soul delight itself in abundance.  (Isaiah 55:2)

I am frequently a spectator to the “boy culture” in our home, peering through the testosterone haze and drawing conclusions about life from the male perspective.  From the earliest days, I have over-reacted to their stunts, particularly when those stunts have involved rooftops.  One day, after a particularly deep snowfall, I learned that the two oldest boys had been . . .

. . .  climbing onto the woodshed roof and jumping off! 

A few hours after forbidding the reckless behavior of my sons, I greeted their Dad, home from work and ready to listen to my daily litany of, “You won’t believe what they did today!”  The two boys were nearby as their Dad heard about “the woodshed incident.”

“Show me what you did,” he said with a smile.

Mittens, snow suits, laughter, and boots carried them to the “scene of the crime.”   His conclusion?

They’re fine.

The snow was deep enough to catch them; the roof was not too high.

Will they remember this, someday, when they think God is unapproachable because of something they’ve done?

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.  (Romans 8:1)

Approachable.

Wise.

And when it comes to life’s questions, a  Dad with sons is forever on the hook.  No topic should be off limits for either parent to discuss, but when it comes time to talk about the responsibility and blessing of being a man, a boy needs time and straight talk from the Dad.  Will he side step the issue?

“I want to be the one who tells them.”

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.  (Psalm 32:8)

Therefore, this Father’s Day, if I turn away from the card rack empty-handed, it will not be with sadness.

This time, the reason will be that there is no card that can wrap around the fullness of a home,

the richness of a family,
the blessedness of a life
with a faithful and Christ-following Dad.

Celebrating with joy and gratitude,

Michele (1)

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

60 thoughts on “Father’s Day: A New and Better Celebration”

  2. sometimes there’s just no card. for whatever reason.

    and may we all do as your sweet husband has done – ‘taking his cues from a heavenly Father.’

    may it be a day of laughter and joy for you and yours, friend …

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  4. Your post is a great tribute to the Dad in your family. He sounds like one awesome, and fun dad. I like the example talking to farmer. 🙂 had no dad, I mean, I had one, but he exited early. My mom became my dad. However, God blessed me with a husband that was an awesome dad to our sons and daughter. The proof is how they talk about him now as they are well into their adult years, and how by his example they have become good dads and moms. Sadly again, there is no father’s day cards this year, but he left some tough kids that are managing and moving on in their lives with happy memories. Happy Father’s Day to your family. ~hugs~

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  8. What a sweet post. I had the same experiences with Father’s Day cards. I wanted to respect and honor my dad, but years of alcoholism and anger takes its toll. He finally came to the Lord about six years before he died. I’ve been so blessed with a husband who sounds much like yours.

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  10. Michele,
    What a beautiful tribute to a God-fearing man and father…your husband. Your boys are blessed beyond belief to have a mother and father that work so well together as a team. I had to chuckle about the shed incident. The answer to many a query of “Why did you climb that and jump off?” was…”Because it was there.” Nuff said 😉
    Blessings,
    Bev xx

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  14. Oh I find that so true! I am often the more cautious one when it comes to money, boy shenanigans, and anticipating accidents where my husband is much more laid back and tries to remind me that such is the nature of boys.

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  15. Just another reminder that I wasn’t up to the tasks of being a mom of boys. 😉 God knew I only needed little girls. I’ll take the drama and emotional chaos any day over those physical dares that boys take. lol. Thanks for sharing the wisdom of the man in your family, Michele!

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  16. What a beautiful tribute to a wonderful Dad. He sounds like a keeper! 🙂 After growing up in a family of all girls, it took me a while to get used to the “boy culture” too.

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  17. Chiming in with another “Kudos!” to your husband, Michele, for the godly example he has been to your boys and to those who have witnessed his fathering over the years. I was blessed to have just such a dad who played ball with us, took us to the swimming pool, the sledding hill, and for bike rides, taught us SO much, and exemplified every fruit of the Spirit. Mom and Dad are in heaven now. I treasure the memories and the rich legacy of their character and faith they left to my brother and me.

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  18. Michele, I had to smile at your post. Being the oldest of three girls, I had no idea just how really and truly different boys are! My husband has been my primer in better understanding our boy-men. And he’s been so intentional about building relationship with our sons. It is beautiful. I loved reading of the snowshed incident. It sounds just like something my boys would do, given the opportunity. You are blessed to have a husband who seeks to understand his sons and is deliberate in how he pours into them!

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  19. A lovely post, thank you for sharing. I especially appreciate the way you interwove the Biblical Text with your human experience. Your sons are blessed with a Godly Father and hopefully, that helps them or will help them connect with God as Father. It can be difficult otherwise. I have had the challenge of picking out cards that said the right thing, spoke a quiet polite truth without overstating the wonderfulness of the dad or daughter, while still showing love. I have walked away from the card rack more than once. Glad you don’t really have to do that, or at least not do it sad. Blessings, Michele Somerville, The Beach Girl Chronicles

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    1. Thanks,Michele, for this thoughtful comment. I’m sorry that you also know the sadness at the card rack. I’m grateful for my present day family, and I do believe you are correct that a good father makes the connection to a heavenly father much more seamless.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Hello Michelle, my first time here at your blog through My corner of the World. I wish to greet your husband a Happy Father’s Day! Hope it’s not yet late 🙂 Super love your family photo!

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    1. You’re very kind! That picture was taken in 2010–unbelievable that it’s already been 10 years! The two older boys are grown men and married with children, the youngest graduated from high school this year and his older brother is building a house next door to us. Lots of changes!

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  22. A fitting tribute to a Christian dad. He may not be perfect, but the Perfect One has his back!

    I’m glad you are a part of ‘My Corner of the World’ this week! Thanks for linking up.

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  23. ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

    Liked by 1 person

  27. Happy Father’s Day. This is such a lovely sentiment. I have to admit that your ending made me feel quite emotional, in a good way. To turn away empty handed from the card rack because nothing can quite match up to that full, and very much loved feeling you want to capture and express -I’ve done this! Thank you for joining us for the #DreamTeamLInky

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  28. Aw, Michele … this is beautiful. I also am thankful for a husband who does what he needs to do to take care of the family, and who often takes a more even-keeled approach to things that sometimes gets the mom of the house all spun up. (My girls have never had the opportunity to jump off a shed roof into deep snow, but I’m sure they would have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.)

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  31. This is such a lovely, meaningful, timely post, Michele! I’m featuring it at the Hearth and Soul Link Party this week. Thank you so much for sharing it and for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Community. Take care and I wish you lots of blessings in the week ahead!

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