Dads

"It is a wise father who knows his own child."
-William Shakespeare

I'm not really sure how I'm going to follow up this Shakespeare quote with anything even worth your time, but I'm going to give it my best amateur writer try.

Today we celebrate Fathers, Dads, Papas, Daddys, Dadas, Grandpas.  We celebrate the value they add to our families.  We celebrate the way they lead us and the way they make us laugh.  We celebrate the sacrifices they make like working extra hours for a family vacation or mowing the lawn in the rain or getting up in the middle of the night to feed the baby or completing the Daddy-to-do list before company shows up.  We celebrate the way they hug and cuddle and speak truth into our kids' lives.  We celebrate their work ethic and the way they can somehow fit three kids on their backs while running down the hallway.  We celebrate the way they love us.

I am thankful for all the men in this world taking this Dad thing seriously.  I believe Dads are one of our most important assets in this world.  Dads make a difference.  In families and in kids.  Especially Dads that know their children well. 

Shakespeare's quote spoke to me because I am lucky enough to be married to a guy who knows his kids well.  He knows how Luke likes to snuggle close in the morning before he's fully awake.  He knows how to do Lily's hair in a pony tail and how to make her giggle by chasing her down the hallway.  He knows how to make Jude smile and how to make his eyes do that twinkling thing.  He knows how to get Luke to eat his dinner without nagging.  He knows how to make Lily smile wide by doing 'ready, set, go' as she flies into his arms before bed each night.  He knows them.  Each one of them.  So well.

Happy Father's Day to all you Dads out there.  Coming from a wife and a mom and a daughter with a loving Dad, you do such seriously important work.  Keep it up.