The first celebration of Father’s Day was in the Spokane, Washington YMCA on June 19, 1910. It had been founded by Sonora Smart Dodd who thought after hearing a sermon about Mother’s Day that there should also be a similar day for fathers. Her own father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran and was a single parent who raised she and her five siblings. The celebration didn’t catch on immediately and with Dodd’s studies taking much of her time, she didn’t promote it. However, U.S. President Calvin Coolidge recommended it to be observed as a national holiday in 1924 but stopped short of issuing a national proclamation. In 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers and designating the third Sunday in June as Father’s Day. Six years later, the day was made a permanent national holiday when President Richard Nixon signed it into law in 1972.
Today, Father’s Day is celebrated around the world on various dates. Mexico, Germany, Thailand, and Japan all celebrate the holiday, though some on a different day. So as we look forward to celebrating dads on Father’s Day, think of some special ways to honor a special man in your life. Respect is one of the qualities that is lacking most in many households and actually in our society. Just remember that respect and honor for each other should not only happen on a single day. The development and nurturing of relationships and friendships happen over a lifetime. They are worth the effort and the little bit of self-sacrifice to make others feel appreciated, respected and listened to pays off in droves for each other. I encourage you on this Father’s Day to not neglect those men in your life who have, are or even will be taking on the role of a Father. Because you really can’t buy back these years! Happy Father’s Day! Listen to "Buy Back the Years" here: https://youtu.be/TSLzj2isAQQ
