The Voice of our Pastors

Thanks Dad

By Fr. Tim Horan
June 17, 2012

We take special care each year to let mothers know how grateful we are for the countless acts of kindness and thoughtfulness they have offered so their family might grow healthfully and happily.

So now it’s your turn Dad. Happy Father’s Day.

It’s sort of hard to put into words but your day feels different than mom’s. It was easy, and fun actually, to let mother know how much we love her and appreciate all she means to us. But when it comes time to let you know how special you are we get tongue tied. It’s harder to say all those soft and loving things to you. At least for this son.

Why? Well sometimes it’s because you weren’t very soft. And sometimes your loving came with a sternness attached to it. We never doubted your love Dad, it’s just that we seldom talked about it — and that seemed just fine with you.

Well today is your day, and we’re not going to let you get out of this without hearing just what your love has meant to us!! So here’s why we love you Dad (from this particular son – in no particular order):

• For your hands that were big and strong and lifted me on to your shoulders.
• For your voice that could pierce the noise of a crowd when you called my name.
• For your promise to come back to get me no matter where I was, and you always did!
• For going to Mass and Communion every time I served Mass for six years in grade school. Your faith awakened mine.
• For teaching me how to treat women — beginning with my sisters!!
• For standing up to my teenage moods and telling me when my behavior was not up to your standards.
• For loving my mother, your wife.
• For insisting that we learn in school and bring that knowledge into conversation with adults.
• For knowing just when to stop my whining (not too soon, but not a second too long).
• For making me want to make you proud – this has been a huge guide for life – “What would make Dad proud?”
• For that look you gave me the day I was ordained a priest.
• For working so hard and in so many thankless ways to make our home safe and free from fear…so Mom could make it fun and happy!!
• For showing me how to work so as to be proud of what I’ve done.
• For not cursing in front of me until I turned 18.
• For never, never backing down from a bully.
• For never, never (to the best of my knowledge) telling a lie. Your word was gold.
• And lastly… for giving me something to think about when I said the words “Our Father who art in heaven…”

Thanks Dad. Don’t expect these words tomorrow!!

Fr. Tim