Father’s Day Gift Letter
Every early June we start to think of Father’s Day approaching. The newspapers are full of ads for stuff to buy Dad for Father’s Day. Stuff like newest lightweight fishing poles or the latest and greatest tents on the market or a new shiny outdoor grill. What to get Dad for Father’s Day? My Dad always said ‘Don’t get me anything; it’s the thought that counts.” So, I thought I would give my Dad his Father’s Day gift in the form of a letter.
Dear Dad,
Let me start by saying Happy Father’s Day. I feel a little cheesy writing you a letter as a gift for your special day, but I do have a couple of thoughts for you on this Father’s Day.
My first thought would be to thank you for all the years you worked tirelessly to raise your four children. I know for many years you felt over your head yet you didn’t give up, you kept plugging away. I can’t count the number of vacations you worked through just to make extra money. The money that was used so the rest of us could go on a little vacation or get new school uniforms or even to pay the mortgage or grocery bill. You didn’t know it back then, but you were giving your children one of the greatest gift you could give….a great example of a strong work ethic.
My second thought would be to tell you how smart I think you became in my adulthood. In my teens, I was sure you just didn’t get it. You didn’t understand what it was like to be my age. How could you possibly know anything about anything going on in my life, you hadn’t been my age in like…. forever. I think I was in my early twenties when I realized you weren’t so backward after all. Maybe I should do what you had been telling me to do all along….start listening. Maybe you did have something you could tell me. I think I even said to you “Holy cow, when did you get so smart?” I know you are smiling now just thinking about it.
My final thought for this Father’s Day would be to tell you how I miss you. How not a day has gone by in the last seven years that I haven’t thought about you, missed you and wondered what you would be doing to make me crazy if you were here. You strived to drive me crazy and get me all charged up and yes, I did the same. I wonder what you are doing, who you are seeing and how have you been. I think about all the fun you would be causing if you lived at Immanuel Communities. You would be back in the kitchen telling Chef how much black pepper to use, though it already tasted great and I am sure you would have made lifelong friends with all the Med Aids, though all you would do is give them a hard time.
Dad someone we know passes I want to tell them to tell you hello from me, but then I think, oh, you already heard me. I want to tell you all the great things that happen in my day or the goofy stuff happening in the family, but you already know that too. I love the fact that I can say anything I want to you and you can’t say anything back. Finally I get always to have the last word. I am happy you are where you are, in heaven, watching over us. Please continue to do so we still need all the help we can get.
I will close this Father’s Day gift letter by saying that I still have several more thoughts to give you, but they can wait until next Father’s Day and there isn’t a darn thing you can do about it.
Happy Father’s Day-I’ll be thinking about you!
