Today I remember the wonderful man I am blessed to call “Dad”. Almost two decades have gone by without him and I still miss him deeply. My dad was a fun-loving man always up for the next thing and ready to make it special.  He pretended to be gruff but beneath the crotchety surface was a squishy heart of gold.  My kids lovingly called him Grumpy Grampy–or just Grumpy for short.  He thought it was hilarious and spoiled them all lavishly (or used them as an excuse to get something he wanted!). How he cherished being a grandpa. I can always imagine him peeking at tiny hands and feet as we welcome our own sweet grandchildren into the family.

I think, too, of my grandfather–a big. booming kind of man–equally soft when it came to his family. He and my grandmother were so good to my brother and I and always made us feel special and loved.

Then there is my love, dad and grandpa to our beautiful and growing crew. Similar in many ways to these other important men in my life. His love for his family is deep and immovable. He is ready to help in anyway he can without question or fanfare. He loves to spoil the grandlittles and nothing melts his heart like a wee one reaching out to him or begging him to do something with them. He is a wonderful, godly man and I am so very thankful for him.

It brings me so much joy and gratitude to see my own sons and sons-in-love raising our grandlittles with the same boundless love and tenderness. Each one a godly example, wholeheartedly pouring themselves into each precious child.

As I think of these special men in my life, my thoughts cannot possibly omit my Heavenly Father. He is the embodiment of all that makes a good father, but also the epitome of all things good. He loves perfectly. He loves unconditionally. He loves eternally. His love wants our best at all times. Sometimes this means we do not get what we want. Sometimes this means we must suffer the consequences of our choices. Sometimes this means that we are disciplined or redirected, always for our best. He is always there for us.

I often pray for women as Mother’s Day approaches, but I confess I haven’t thought to do the same for the men at Father’s Day. I realized, today–better late than never–this fact and purposed to remedy this situation as I offer up a prayer similar to the one for women:

May those men who are raising or have raised their children, and those who have embraced the children of others as their very own be blessed today. Whether these littles receive love and affection from their biological dad, step-dad, foster dad, grandfather or father figure, it is a blessing that cannot be taken for granted. What an important role to play!

I am praying for those grieving dads whose arms are empty when they should be wrapped around a precious child. I am praying for those men whose deepest desire is to be called ‘daddy’ by a sweet little voice, but are not. I am praying for dads and their children whose relationships are broken, that they may be reconciled.

I am praying for the dad who condemns himself for all his perceived failures in parenthood. I am praying for the distraught dad who lies in his bed, sleepless, as he worries and prays over his ‘baby’ who is caught up in poor choices or over the illness of his beloved child.

I am praying for all the tired dads out there. Raising tiny humans is not for the faint of heart. Your time, your energy and your very being are tied up in that wee life, but I’m here to tell you it is a noble calling and it is truly worth it.

I am thinking of the children, young and old, who wish for one more opportunity to embrace the man who raised them, whatever their title, but are separated today by distance or forever by passing. May you be comforted and filled with wonderful memories.

Dads, you are appreciated, loved and needed in so many ways. You have profound significance in the upbringing of these precious little ones.

May each of you be enveloped in God’s love and joy today.