With Father’s Day coming up, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the greatest gift a dad could ever receive. And, there are a couple of avenues I could explore in doing so. In one way I could write about all the cool things that you could get for dad – like Melissa did. Or, I could tell you that the greatest gift a dad could ever receive comes in the way of he himself giving.

A Daughter’s Love

About three years ago when my daughter Kate was just four, I asked her what love was. She responded without hesitation, “love is what makes your heart happy.”

Just last night Kate came up to me and asked, “Daddy – can you come and watch a show on tv with me?” It was 9:30 and I felt the urge to say no and explain that it was past her bedtime and that she should get about brushing her teeth and changing into her p.j’s. But, something inside said, get down there and give this girl some time. Make her heart happy.

So we ventured downstairs and over to our way cool and comfy couch. Kate snuggled up under my arm, laid her head on my chest and looked up at me with those amazing little girl eyes. You know the eyes I am talking about. The eyes that melt the emotional metal of any father. The eyes that make mush of any planned discipline. She looked at me and said, “Daddy, I love it when you spend time with me – thank you. I love you.”

Whether you are a father or not – when your kids hit you with the …I love it when… or the simply put, …I love you sentence, your heart smiles. And, for me, I think it’s the best gift that a father can get. Just juxtapose it with the commercialization of Father’s Day and even the hardest of hearts will quickly understand that the greatest gift is giving.

Be giving of your time. Be giving of your attention. Be giving with your heart. Give your mind. Give the hugs. Give the kisses. Give all you have because the feeling you get when your kids respond is likely the most gratifying experience one will ever have.

Emerson says it Best

One of my all time favorite prose was written or plagiarized by Emerson. And, it speaks direct to the point I am making:

To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest citizens and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give of one’s self; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived—this is to have succeeded.

Have an amazing over the top and giving Father’s Day Dads.

 

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