Father's Day was on Sunday, so I thought it'd be a good idea to honor all the amazing dads out there this week! They come in all shapes and sizes and personalities. :)
I actually learned something really cool about my own dad (seen here in his younger days) this weekend. We were talking about paying bills (gosh such grown up talk!) and he mentioned his monthly charity payments. Now I knew that he had an "adopted" child in need through the Christian Children's Fund, but what I didn't know is that he has been donating to twelve charities a year for about 20 years! Not to mention the extra that he donates during Christmas time in lieu of family gifts. I thought that was wonderful. Even when he went through a bout of unemployment, he continued to support those non-profits because for him, writing the check to the Red Cross is as important as writing the check to the electric company.This made me think that I could do more. If I can afford to pay an $80 phone bill (darn you iPhone!), then I can certainly afford to support a charity every month. And I got a bit excited, thinking about what charities I would choose as my own personal twelve! I'm so glad that my father can continue to teach me life lessons as I enter my 30's.
Today's Assignment: Tell Me About Your Dad
I want to hear about your dad! What makes him nice? What's the nicest thing he's done for you? Leave a comment here for all of us to read! And I'd like to say a collective "thanks" to all the incredible dads out there!
12 comments:
Hey Melissa,
First off, great topic. I just had to comment.
My Dad didn't come from the wealthiest of families but he always worked extremely hard to make sure he provided for my two younger brothers and me.
What I remember most about my childhood with my Dad is being outside almost every day just playing every sport imaginable, taking walks to explore new neighborhoods, or riding bikes down a steep hill at the park around the corner. It didn't matter if he had a long day at work and was exhausted. He knew that coming home meant the world to us and he never let his job stop him from taking us out.
Of course on Saturdays he'd make us haul tree branches and clean the yard and garage with him. But even then, we loved it.
I hope when I'm a father, I have kids who get as excited as we did when we heard my Dad's car roll up to the house. My Dad taught me how to be a father. And I think that's the best lesson any Dad can teach his son.
Yea, I'd say my Dad was pretty nice.
Phil, that is SO SWEET!!! Sounds like a fantastic man!
I can't even begin to list all of the nice things that my dad has done for me over the years. In general, him just being my dad is the nicest thing he has ever done for me.
But, to get specific I can think of one time in particular that sticks out in my mind. I was finally old enough to be in the band. And I really, really wanted to play the flute. My parents didn't have a lot of money, but my dad always worked really hard to make sure we had MORE than what we needed. I don't think my parents wanted me to know, but I am pretty sure my dad sold his gun at a pawn shop to go buy me a flute. And that was not the only time over the years that my dad gave up something he loved to provide something for my sisters, mother, and I.
He may not be the richest man in the world or ever have accomplished something that everyone will know him for, but to me he is the biggest hero in the world.
Mere words cannot describe the love I have for my Daddy. He is my rock and my go-to guy! He is VERY nice and the best Daddy on the planet.
I love your post.
Thank you. It reminded me how awesome and kind my father is. I remember when I went to university, though I am his little girl, he was the one who pushed me to pursue my degree on a state university that is oceans away from my comfort zone.
I knew it hurt him but he knew what was best for me.
And now I just couldn't thank him enough for that decision.
God bless us all
Love.Love.Love
I agree with Phil. What a nice topic!
My dad, like so many, worked hard to provide for our family of five and allow my mom to stay home with us. We didn't have the most expensive things, but we had everything we could ever need.
I remember playing kickball and croquet on the weekends, or biking up and down our dead-end road. We'd get up early to fish in the summer or hunt in the fall. He'd even retreat to the basement when football or baseball was on to allow my sister and me to watch TV in the living room.
My dad and I are so very alike, in looks and personalities, and even bad habits (nail-biters, though we've both quit more than once). Family and friends called me Little Ray when I was a toddler, even though I'm a girl. We're both introverted and quiet for the most part, but he's the nicest person I've ever known. We don't talk a lot on the phone, for that exact reason, but I hope he knows I think the world of him.
My Dad is awesome! My Dad served in the Military for over 20 years of his life. When my dad served in Vietnam (where he met my mother) he adopted a little girl-now my sister & took care of her-along with my brother and I. To me, just the simple fact that he served his country & gave up his freedom & his life to serve the United States says it all.....
I love hearing about everybody's wonderful dads! Mine was fun, outgoing, never pushy, never sarcastic, funny, loving, great with animals... all the things I think are most important (hmmm... could there be a connection?) My dad was a competition dance rollerskater (into his 80s!), and spent a lot of time at various roller rinks. There were lots and lots of kids of all ages who absolutely adored him. I think that says a lot for his kindness and loving personality.
I miss him more and more, as I grow up and learn what's most valuable, and realize he taught me all those things.
My father is tough on the outside but mushy on the inside. he taught me about sarcasm, fly fishing, managing money, and the importance of family.
This past father's day is the first since I've been married and I think that's been hard on him. I'm the youngest so I'm his baby girl. He's worked so hard to provide for our family through the years, and has been a wonderful example of doing the "right" thing.
I'll never forget when he cleaned his rifle in front of my first boyfriend (no joke!) OR when he saw me putting on makeup for the first time and said "You know, your mother is beautiful and she doesn't wear that stuff."
Dads are such a gift.
my dad is really nice. he's a great friend to all, he talks to everybody and always try to look at the bright side of things. he's a great dad and does everything he can to make his family happy. he is also really funny.
Hi Melissa,
Off the bat, your dad is a hell of a handsome man and a wonderful person!
Well my dad is not a person that you would look at and think... geez what a nice guy (I get this from him).
However, I have seen my dad do some incredible things for people and he has never once wanted anything in return (not even a thank you).
I remember I was in high school and my dad use to pick me up and drop me off every single day. One day one of my girlfriends got in early for a change. I asked her how she got in so early and she told me that my dad saw her and her sister waiting at the bus stop (the bus was always notoriously late) and my dad just stopped to pick them up and drove them to school. This was after he dropped me off from school and just finished a 12 hour shift from the factory.
Another time I was waiting for my dad in the morning to come home from the factory to take me to school. He was 10 minutes late, he's never late. I was worried. Ten minutes later dad came home, I asked him where has he been. He told me that he saw a girl standing at the bus stop in the pouring rain. He asked her if she wanted a lift and of course she refused, I would have as well. So he drove to the local supermarket down the street and bought and umbrella and gave it to her, he said that the bus looks late and she shouldn't have to get sick from it.
Recently, my dad bought an investment property. One of his trades is tiling and building. So he re-did the kitchen and bathroom as well as re-painting, carpeting and decorating the whole house. The house looked brand spanking new by the end of it. It came to picking out a tenant. In Adelaide (Australia) house prices have gone up quite drastically and rental properties have become scarce, so there were lots of people putting their hand up for my dad's property.
Dad had narrowed it down to two couples; the first couple had good referees and stable incomes. The second didn't come with referees, were supported by the government due to being a risk, had a child and when you first met them looked like they came from the wrong side of the tracks. Dad, being dad, offered the property to the second family... to my mother's disapproval.
I had to assist Dad with the paperwork so I met this couple. We informed them that they were successful and walked them through the property before signing the contract. The husband broke down and cried. The wife then began to cry. I was stunned, I thought to myself... the house is in good shape but it is by no means a mansion.
The husband then apologised and told my father and me that the family has had it hard. He went through a patch of homelessness and then he lived with his brother’s family for a few years. Since he began a family he has tried and tried to get his life together. He got a stable job but he found it hard to get a house. People would just write him off. The ones that were offered to him were not fit for a family. He said that Dad's house was a mansion in their eyes and they were just so grateful that some gave them a fair go (very Aussie saying).
So... Dad may not be a "nice guy” to others. In my eyes, he is the greatest.
Interesting topic.
My dad wasn't a nice person to a lot of people. He sold drugs, he went to jail for drunk-driving, he bashed my stepmum for 4 years until we all left.
But I loved him. He was my dad. He just made mistakes. He took his own life 13 months ago. I miss him.
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