CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL

THE selflessness of fathers and her experiencing this selflessness led Sonora Dodd of Washington to initiate the idea of a “Father’s Day.” To her, fathers are equally courageous, selfless, and loving as mothers. She held the first Father’s Day celebration on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington. Her novel idea of honoring fathers eventually spread. Finally, in 1966, then President of the US Lyndon Johnson officially proclaimed the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. We enthusiastically adopted this beautiful idea and have been celebrating this special occasion yearly.

All the world's great writers have honored their fathers for they, too, experienced memorable moments in their lives with them. The world's greatest book - the Holy Bible - enshrined fathers with the "Ten Commandments" in the Book of Exodus enjoining all to honor their father and mother.

WHAT MAKES DAD
Author Unknown

An anonymously written poem captures the many qualities a father possesses and explains why a father is God Almighty's masterpiece:


What Makes a Dad?
God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight The joy of a morning in Spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depths of a family need, Then combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew his masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it... "DAD!"

Today is Father's Day. Let us pay tribute to this Divine masterpiece who, together with our mother, created life and enabled each one of us to enjoy the gift of life.


CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL
By Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen


When I was five, my biological father committed suicide. It left me feeling as though I'd done something wrong; that if I had been better somehow, maybe he'd have stayed around. My mother remarried shortly thereafter, and this man was my dad until I was nineteen. I called him Dad and used his name all through school. But, when he and my mother divorced, he just walked away. Once again, I wondered what was wrong with me that I couldn't keep a father.

Mother remarried again, and Bob was a wonderful, kind man. I was twenty now and no longer living at home, but I felt a great love and attachment for him. A few years later my mother was diagnosed with cancer and was not given long to live. Shortly before she died, Bob came over to my house alone one day. We talked about a lot of things, and then he told me that he wanted me to know that he'd always be there for me, even after Mother was gone. Then he asked if he could adopt me.

I could hardly believe my ears. Tears streamed down my face. He wanted me -- me! This man had no obligation to me, but he was reaching out from his heart, and I accepted. During the adoption proceedings, the judge commented on all the undesirable duties of his profession and then with a tear in his eye, thanked us for brightening his day as he pronounced us father and daughter. I was twenty-five, but I was his little girl.

Three short years later, Bob, too, was diagnosed with cancer and was gone within the year. At first I was hurt and angry at God for taking this father away too. But eventually the love and acceptance that I felt from Dad came through again, and I became, once more, grateful for the years we had.

On Father's Day I always reflect on what I've learned about fatherhood. I've learned that it is not dependent on biology or even on raising a child. Fatherhood is a matter of the heart. Bob's gift from the heart will warm my soul for eternity.

This was composed in memory of my Father who passed away four years ago after Father's Day. God Bless. - Alvin