Honoring Dad on Father's Day

In 1972, sixty-two years after it was first proposed by Sonora Louise Smart Dodd, Father's Day was permanently established by President Richard Nixon to be observed on the third Sunday in June. As a day set aside to honor the role of a father in the family, each June begs the same question: "How has your father influenced your life?"

Men — stoic gents, many of them — often gloss over sweet musings and declarations of love directed their way. But Father's Day is a gloves-off, defenses-down kind of day. The one day each year that dads let their guard down.

Don't let it slip by without striking the love-chord in your father's heart. Tell your dad, stepdad, or granddad that he has etched your heart with a love like no one else's. Then back it up — with memories that detail his actions and reveal how he has shaped your life.

Spend a few minutes thinking back. Will you have memories of:

• dancing on his feet,
• the smell and smoothness of his clean-shaven face,
• the strength of his hand holding yours as you strolled along as shell-seekers in the surf,
• his presence at your ball games, recitals, or carpool runs,
• him walking you down the aisle on your wedding day, or
• helping you pick up the pieces after a shattering disappointment?

Share those moments with your dad — the ones that built the bond you share. What a gift you'll be giving him: affirming that his simple acts of love through the years were seen, felt, and treasured.

Like you, your dad is not getting any younger. The people we hold most dear are destined to leave us. Let him know you are acutely aware he has been there for you all these years — and that he can count on you always being there for him.

If you'd like to give a Father's Day gift that reminds your dad of your love every single day, may I share the Loving Heart Pocket Heart or Pin . Simple yet powerful symbols of a bond shared by two, worn discreetly inside a jacket or pant pocket — perfect gifts for the men in your life. For Father's Day, I've created a new verse to accompany each: "You've always been there for me. I'll always be there for you." Other verses are available in multiple languages, and if you'd like to create your own, that's possible too. Find yours at LovingHeartCollection.com.

As for me — well aware of how fleeting life is — if I had the chance to be with Daddy this Father's Day, I'd sneak from behind as he sat in his favorite chair. I'd wrap my arms around his neck and tell him how much his love has meant to me. Then, now, and forever.

If you are crazy about your dad, Father's Day is not just another day. — Jean Cotten Schnaak, LHC Designer

In loving memory of Melvin Jackson Cotten Sr., 1921–1998