15
June 2002
Subject:
Father’s Day
Dear
Ones,
Tomorrow
is Father's Day.
I
once heard someone say this about Father’s Day, "Poor old Dad! He never
expects anything, doesn't like a fuss, and just wants all his family to be
happy. He may not show his feelings, but he still likes to be told that you love
him!" I guess that about sums up how I feel about Father's Day.
We
try not to make a big fuss about this particular day on the calendar.
Personally, I believe its mother's who deserve all the credit and adoration from
their children. Sometimes, however, others make the fuss for us... or over
us. That's what happened to me a few days before Father's Day this year.
Leavon
and I were in Baton Rouge earlier this week where I received an award from
the Governor as one of 16 "School Volunteers of the Year" in the State
of Louisiana. This took place at a reception in the Governor's Mansion... which
I considered a big-time fuss since I had to get all dressed up in coat and tie,
etc. Don't get me wrong... I appreciated the sentiments behind such an award,
but I really didn't need to go "smooze" with the "Gov" to
get it. They could have just sent it to me in the mail for all I cared.
After
the reception, we went back to Christian's house to change into something more
casual before going out to dinner. It was at this time that Little Miss Madison
thought I should receive my Father's Day card and present a few days early. A
little gift bag was brought out and set before me, She insisted that "Papa
Don" go ahead and open the present and read the card even after
“Mama Leavon” said that Father's Day wasn't until Sunday... and I should
wait. Little Miss Madison, however, was not to be denied… and I obliged
her.
I
must say that this first Father's Day after Christian presented us with a
daughter-in-law and step-granddaughter was probably the best Father's Day that I
ever had. My present was a framed photo of the three of them for me to place on
my desk and the card was the nicest card I have ever received. Besides the
normal text, the card contained beautiful handwritten messages from both Melanie
and Christian. I must say I was overwhelmed with emotion at the things my son
and his wife wrote to me. The last line, however, said everything any father
could ever hope to hear. It read, "I love you, Dad."
Here's
hoping you and yours have the best Father's Day ever. I wish you love!!
May
God bless you.
Don
Melanie, Christian & Madison
When God Created Fathers
by
Erma Bombeck
When the good Lord was creating Fathers he started with a tall frame, and a female angel nearby said, "What kind of Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put Fathers up so high? He won't be able to shoot a marble without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot of stooping."
And
God smiled and said ... "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would
children have to look up to?"
And when God made a Father's hands, they were large and sinewy. And
the angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do you know what you are doing?
Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber
bands on pony tails or even remove splinters caused by baseball bats."
And God smiled and said ... "I know, but they're large enough
to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets at the end of a day ...
yet small enough to cup a child's face in his hands."
And then God molded long, slim legs and broad shoulders, And the
angel nearly fell over. "Boy this is the end of the week, all right,"
she clucked. "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap? How is
he going to pull a child close to him without the kid falling between his
legs?"
And God smiled and said ... "A Mother needs a lap. A Father
needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, balance a boy on a bicycle, or hold a
sleepy head on the way home from the circus."
God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen
when the angel could contain herself no longer. "That's not fair. Do you
honestly think those large boats are going to dig out of bed early in the
morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a small birthday party without
crunching at least three of the guests?"
And God smiled and said ... "They'll work. You'll see. They'll support a
small child who wants to ride a horse to Ban bury Cross, or scare off mice at
the summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill."
God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm,
authoritative voice; eyes that saw everything, but remained calm and tolerant.
Finally, almost as an afterthought, he added tears.
Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied that he can
love as much as a Mother?"
And the angel shutteth up!
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 depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it ... Dad