A Quiet Strength: Honoring Fathers

Fatherhood doesn’t always look like grand speeches or perfect wisdom. Sometimes it looks like quietly fixing the squeaky step for the third time… with a sigh, a flashlight, and the exact right screwdriver they somehow always have.(Grandpa) Other times, it’s chasing kids through the sprinkler fully clothed, doing the bedtime voices no one else can top, or cutting sandwiches into oddly shaped dinosaurs because “triangles are boring.”

It’s brushing little girl hair with maybe not the gentlest hands you’ve ever seen — but he’s trying, even if the part is crooked and he needs three hair ties just to secure a ponytail. It’s sitting cross-legged at a tea party with a crown on his head. It’s Googling “what’s a fishtail braid?” at 6 a.m. because he’s determined to try. 

That’s fatherhood. The quiet heroism. The playful presence. The I’m-here-no-matter-what faithfulness. The terrible taste in jokes. The loud sneezes and stinky butts.

As a mom, there are moments when I just stand back and watch — holding the moment captive, witnessing something special unfold. Watching my spouse kneel down to pray with our children, laugh until he cries with them, or teach them something as simple as how to throw a baseball or play Mario cart — I see a bond being built. Brick by brick. Heart to heart. A closeness that will last.

And sometimes, that kind of fatherhood doesn’t come naturally — it’s learned, day by day, in the small, brave choices to show up and invest. That’s worth celebrating.

“The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” – Proverbs 20:7

But I know Father’s Day isn’t joyful for everyone. Maybe your own father was distant or absent. Maybe he’s passed on, and today feels hollow. Or maybe your heart carries wounds that only grace can soothe.

Can I remind you of this?

You have a Heavenly Father who sees it all. He’s never left. Never missed a moment. He’s the One who gently carries your pain, lovingly fills the gaps, and welcomes you with perfect, unwavering love.

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” – Psalm 68:5

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God…” – 1 John 3:1

So today, let’s celebrate the dads who lead with strength and tenderness. The ones who show up and stick around. The ones who learn new hairstyles and cry during the hugs after being away so long. The ones who stay up late painting rooms pink and wake up early to make pancakes shaped like hearts. 

And let’s celebrate the Father above all fathers — whose love is perfect, whose faithfulness is forever, and whose presence is never in question.

Whether you’re hugging your dad, missing him, watching your spouse become one, or clinging to the Father who never fails — may this day be full of gratitude, comfort, and joy that’s deep enough to last.

To strong hands, playful hearts, and the Father who holds it all together —

Mary