Rose © Carole May
Father’s Day is 100 years old this year. It began in Spokane, WA on June 19, 1909. President Nixon elevated the celebration to a national observance. Don’t ask me why, but the rose is the official flower: red for fathers who are still alive and white for those who have passed on.
The Founding Father’s movement will celebrate the day with a call to men to step up to the plate and be fathers.
But, my concern is for my readers for whom Father’s Day is painful. Sadly, too many of us had fathers who were absent or abusive or molestors. How do we celebrate them? Should we?
This morning I read a beautiful post by Sharon Hill entitled “Memories of Daddy.” I also found a web site where abuse survivors are candidly discussing their feelings: isurvive.org.
On Father’s Day this year, you might want to create new traditions for yourself: buy yourself a beautiful bouquet of roses, light a candle, or buy yourself a RESPECT bracelet at Macy’s.
We are all worthy of our father’s love. Some of us receive our father’s blessings. Sadly, too many of us don’t.
Father’s Day is a good day to remind ourselves that we are all God’s children. You deserve love. You deserve respect. You deserve to be cherished.
Anne Caroline Drake 