'Daddy's Little Girl'

The Story of Father's Day

Father's Day, contrary to popular misconception,
was not established as a holiday in order to help
greeting card manufacturers sell more cards.
In fact when a "father's day" was first proposed
there were no Father's Day cards!
Mrs. John B. Dodd, of Washington, first proposed the
idea of a "father's day" in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted
a special day to honor her father, William Smart.
William Smart, a Civil War veteran, was widowed
when his wife (Mrs. Dodd's mother) died in childbirth
with their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise
the newborn and his other five children by himself
on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that
she realized the strength and selflessness
her father had shown in raising his children
as a single parent.

The first Father's Day was observed on June 19, 1910
in Spokane Washington. At about the same time in various
towns and cities across American other people were
beginning to celebrate a "father's day."
In 1924 President Calvin Coolidge supported
the idea of a national Father's Day.
Finally in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson
signed a presidential proclamation declaring
the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.

Father's Day has become a day to not only honor your father,
but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers,
uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all
be honored on Father's Day.

Here are just a few of the phrases fathers are famous for:

Were you raised in a barn? Close the door.

I'll tell you why. Because I said so. That's why.

No, we're not there yet.

Coffee will stunt your growth.

"Do you want me to turn this car around and go home?"

"Why didn't you go before we left the house?"

"If you all don't behave, I'll stop this car and put you out!"

"Do you want me to go cut a switch?"

"If I have to come up there, everybody's going to get it!"

"Do you think I'm made of money?"

"Get a car? When I was your age I walked to school
--in snow up to here!"

"Do want to spend the rest of your life in your room?"

"I don't care what your friends' parents let them do!"

"When is your boyfriend gonna get his hair cut?"

"You girlfriend has her what pierced??!!"

"No, you cannot have the car!"

"I made all A's when I was in school!"

"Your mother and I never stayed out past midnight,
even after we were married!"

"You need to get a job!"

"I don't care what your mother said! You're not going!"

"Because, I said so!"

"Why is it that I have to do everything around here?"

"Get that bicycle out of the driveway
before I give it to some child that appreciates it!"

"My father would have slapped me silly if I had said that!"

"Get down from there before you break your neck!"

"What is this younger generation coming to?"

"If you want to be able to sit down tomorrow
you'd better do what I tell you!"

"Turn that racket down up there!"

"Move! I can't see the TV!"

"What kind of an idiot pays $100 for a pair of tennis shoes?"

"Boy, I'd never let a daughter of mine
go out with a freak like that!"

"You're going to the dance with who?"

"When I was your age,
I ate anything put on my plate and was glad to get it!"

"There are starving children in Africa
that would give their right arm for that squash!"

"I just gave you $10!"

"Go put on some clothes, young lady!
No daughter of mine is going to go out in public half naked!"

"You remember this when you put me in a nursing home!"

When Fathers Cry

These are memories of my life...
Points of pleasure, scars of strife.
Some from giving, and some from need.
None from hating, and none from greed...

When heroes fall, or fathers cry,
When a tear appears in a mother's eye,
The soulful keening of the Western Wind
For the loss of a precious friend.

Like a seed that's never sown,
Like a hermit living all alone,
Like a house that's never home,
More's the loss of a love unknown.

I'm like a note in a bottle on the sea,
A question mark in a mystery,
A rambling soul in eternity,
Always wandering but never free.

These are memories of my life...
Points of pleasure, scars of strife.
Like a mule packs a heavy load,
I sing a song of the open road...

Like a baby yearns for a warm embrace,
I search the world for a special place.
Like a gentle rain on a summer's day.

The healthy feeling of a hearty laugh.
The secrets of the less chosen path.
Route 66 in a Chevrolet,
Or a box car view of the USA.

These are memories of my life...
Born from darkness, gleaned from light.
They cost me dearly yet they all were free,
Like the setting sun on a mountain seat...

And when my time has all been spent,
Sing for me no sad lament.
I'm like a thought that's here and gone,
And like the breeze, I'm moving on.

These are memories of my life...
Clouds of darkness and beams of light.
They touched me dearly and they all were free.
Just like the love you shared with me...

~Author Unknown~

When God Made Fathers

When the good Lord was creating Father's,
he started with a tall frame.

A female angel nearby said "What kind of a Father is that?
If you're going to make children so close to the ground,
why have you put the Father up so high? He won't be able
to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without
bending, or even kiss a child without stooping"

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.
The angel shook her head and said,
"Large hands can't manage diaper
pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails,
or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats."

Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough
to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets,
yet small enough to cup a child's face in them."

Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders,
"Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?"

The angel chuckled. God said, "A Mother needs a lap.
A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled,
to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head
on the way home from the circus."

When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet anyone
had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer.

"That's not fair. Do you honestly think those boats are going
to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries,
or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two
of the guests?"

God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see.
They will support a small child who wants to ride to Branbury Cross
or scare mice away from a 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 see everything,
but remains calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an after thought,
He added tears.

Then he turned to the angel and said,
"Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?"
The angel said nothing more.

Erma Bombeck

"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!"

~Author Unknown~

"Children's children are the crown of old men,
and the glory of children is their father." (Proverbs 17:7)
 

"Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1
 

 
 

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