A Tribute to Dads Everywhere: Part 1

By Holly Culhane

In the United States, it’s been a tradition since 1910 to set aside a special day each year during the month of June to honor those who play/played the role of father in our lives. These are the men God specifically chose to father us, whether biologically, through adoption or foster care, or through their gracious and selfless choice.

It was Sonora Louise Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who first proposed the idea of a special day for dads. She desired to honor her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who was widowed when his wife died in childbirth with their sixth child. Despite multiple hardships, he proceeded to raise all of his children alone on a rural farm in eastern Washington. Mrs. Dodd wanted to acknowledge her father, a man who had made all the parental sacrifices and was, in her eyes, a courageous, selfless, and loving man.

Each June (and often throughout the year), I think of and honor my father, my John Wayne-like dad who now lives in Heaven. His large hands were rough from hard work as a millwright and soft with a deep love for his wife and daughters. It is only the hug of my son that begins to match the hugs from my dad. He sacrificed much, as did my mother, to assure we had a Christian education, understood the importance of a relationship with Jesus Christ, and learned to live accordingly. He taught me the importance of forgiveness, hard work, doing the right thing – always – and allowing his kids to make their own mistakes. He was always supportive and ready to pick me up when I failed or fell – even as an adult – and lead me back to the right path. I also honor my husband, a remarkable father to our two children – one by choice and then adoption, and the other biologically. With the patience of Job, the wisdom of Solomon, and the devotion of Moses, he has influenced me every single day for 41 years and, I pray, for many years to come. Both of these men have given all to be a great shepherd-dad, and I am beyond grateful for their presence in my life and the lives of my children, both with little influence from their biological fathers. In fact, I encourage you to read He Didn’t Have to Do It, a blog about the neighbor who fully chose without obligation or expectation to shepherd my husband well throughout his childhood years and into adulthood.

I know so many other men who are great dads. There are four exemplary men, however, who came to mind when thinking about people who have a heart for dads: Dan, Andrew, Erik, and Chris. These men felt so strongly that being a good dad shouldn’t be left to chance, that they created dadcraft. I’m going to let them tell you their story…