WHAT IS A DAD?

1. History of Father's Day

a) The idea for creating a day for children to honour their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

b) Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died in childbirth with their sixth son, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. Mr. William Smart, a Cvil War veteran, was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

c) In 1924, President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day.

d) In 1926, a Narional Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognised by a Joint Resolution of  Congress in 1956.

e) In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

f) In 1972 (62 years later), President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So, Father' s Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honoured with a special day just like we honour our mothers on Mother's Day.

i) "Father's Day has become a day to not only to honour your Father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honoured on Father's Day."

g) The Bible tells us to honour our father and mother in Exodus 20: 12.

i) 12“Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (Exodus 20:12 NKJV)

2. Fathers are wonderful people

a) Fathers are wonderful people
Too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
As often as we should ...

b) For, somehow, Father seems to be
The man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
And nurses all our ills ...

c) And Father struggles daily
To live up to "his image"
As protector and provider
And "hero of the scrimmage" ...

d) And perhaps that is the reason
We sometimes get the notion,
That Fathers are not subject
To the thing we call emotion,

e) But if you look inside Dad's heart,
Where no one else can see
You'll find he's sentimental
And as "soft" as he can be ...

f) But he's so busy every day
In the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
To his partner and his wife ...

g) But Fathers are just wonderful
In a million different ways,
And they merit loving compliments
And accolades of praise,

h) For the only reason Dad aspires
To fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
And to bring them happiness.

i) And like Our Heavenly Father,
He's a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be always on our side.

3. What is a Dad?

a) "Any man can be a Father, but it takes a special person to be called Dad."

i) A Dad is a person
Who is loving and kind,
And often he knows
What you have on your mind.

ii) He's someone who listens,
Suggests, and defends
A dad can be one
Of your every best friends!

iii) He's proud of your triumph,
But when things go wrong,
A dad can be patient
And helpful and strong.

iv) In all that you do,
A dad's love plays a part
Theres always a place for him
Deep in your heart.

v) And each year that passes,
Your're even more glad,
More grateful and proud
Just to call him your dad!

vi) Thank you, Dad ...
For listening and caring,
For giving and sharing,
But, especially, for just being you!

4. Prayer focus

a) Pray for your Dad and love him while he is still around. Honour him as the Bible tells you to so that your life will be long on earth. That's is a promise from our Heavenly Father!