Ideas to celebrate Dads, the most important men in our lives.
Our fathers and our husbands are the most important men in our lives. Do they know that, though?
We need to make sure that they do know how important they are to us and how much we and our children love them.
If you are looking for some fresh ideas to celebrate the Dads in your life, here are some things you can do to help you to create more special memories with them, not only on Father’s Day, but any day of the year.
Pray for him.
I am sure you already pray for your father and your husband, but do you pray for him out loud in front of him? Do you hold his hand and pray aloud for him, for his safety and well-being, for his faith, for success in conquering the challenges he faces?
This is a very powerful way to pray for those we love.
Sit down or stand together. You can hold his hand or place your hand on his arm. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you pray. Then, pray out loud for him.
You can do this by yourself, or you and your children can gather around him and each take a turn to pray for him.
When we pray for others in this way, we show them love in a different way than usually. We share with them our hopes, dreams, and prayers for them.
A warning: don’t be surprised if there are some tears!
Find out what he wants to do.
Sometimes what we want to do for our husband or for our father is not what he wants to do. This can lead to a damper on our day instead of the joyful time we are anticipating having together.
Planning a surprise works well when you KNOW he will enjoy it.
If you are unsure of what he wants to do, just ask. This way, you can all enjoy your day even more. You may even be surprised by his answer.
Serve others together.
When we serve the needs of others together as a family, we develop stronger bonds ourselves.
Is there a cause that is important to the special Dad in your life? Find out how can you work together to help out.
If you don’t have a particular cause in mind, here are some ideas:
Pick up trash at a local beach or park.
Help at a homeless shelter during mealtime.
Collect food to donate it to a local food pantry.
Volunteer at an animal shelter.
Help an older couple with yard work or projects they find difficult to do.
Pray a Rosary in front of an abortion clinic.
Donate toys to a children’s’ hospital.
Visit people at a nursing home.
Work together in a ministry at church.
The possibilities are endless.
For something that will have the most meaning, find out what people and causes are dearest to his heart and find a way to serve in this area.
Work on a project together.
We draw closer together and have fun when we work together toward a common goal.
Has he been saying for years that he wants to plant a garden? Help him start one. Start small! You can start with a plant or two in a container.
Does he have a list of projects around the house that he has not gotten to finish yet? If he will welcome help to get them done, everyone can pitch in to help him to get some of them finished.
Build a puzzle together. Yes, a puzzle may sound like a simple project, but you are building something together.
Spending time together is the key, no matter what type of project-work or fun-that you chose to do.
Take a class together.
You can find classes at your local recreation or community centers, junior colleges, library, home center store, or local businesses (like a bakery).
Some classes are free and some may have a cost for materials or tuition. Look around and find out what is available in your area. Ask friends for recommendations.
You may find classes to learn about photography, a foreign language, how to publish a book, cooking classes, or how to tile a floor.
You may be surprised at what you find when you start looking.
Enjoy your time together.
No matter what you do together, have fun! Plan for joy.
Laugh together.
Focus on fun past memories and enjoy making new memories today.
Play games that you all enjoy or ones that get you laughing together.
Try something new together: a new restaurant, a hobby, a sport, or game. Laughter can be part of the process of learning something new. Also, when you are all new to something, no one is known as “the best one” yet. You all start out with the same level of knowledge and ability.
Look back at old pictures or movie reels.
Tell favorite family stories.
Create a tale together, taking turns so each person can add to the action of the story.
Plan for joy.
Take pictures together.
Having pictures will help you to remember your time together for many years to come. When we look at pictures, our memory is triggered and we remember the events that were going on at the time it was taken.
Take serious pictures, take funny pictures, or dress up in costumes. Just make sure you take pictures together!
Get prints of the pictures soon so you can look at them and remember your day. You can frame a special photo or two or put them all (yes, even the ones that didn’t turn out so well) in a simple album so you can look back on them and reminisce together.
Celebrate Dads every day.
Father’s Day is not just one day a year. Father’s Day is every day. (The same goes for Mother’s Day and for International Children’s Day.)
Every day we need to pray for and show our love and care for those around us. Jesus tells us to love our neighbor. He does not mean for us to do this once a year, but every day.
Every day we can pray together, create a special memory, try something new together, or take a picture together.
Every day we have the opportunity to create closer bonds together as a family.
Make sure you plan time to celebrate Dads (and Moms and children) every day in some way, whether big or small.
My Dad was Scottish so one Father”s Day we took him to a Highland Bagpipe concert . That was a first for all of us and he was so surprised and happy. After enjoying the concert as we crossed the parking lot a car came speeding towards us, my Dad instinctively took my hand to protect me as I was still his little girl even though I was in college. I will always treasure that moment .
What beautiful memories you have of that day! When we make such special memories, they can live in our hearts forever. Thank you for sharing.
My Father was a very quiet man but when he spoke he always had something important to say. He taught my sister and me that if we didn’t have something good to say, then say nothing. He never judged anyone and was so kind to others. He taught us what unconditional love is. He died fifty two yrs ago. I still miss him
What beautiful memories you have to cherish! Thank you for sharing. The legacies our fathers leave with us last for our entire lifetime.