The Best Father's Day Gift! Review

Overall 5.00 of 5 view all 2 reviews

kid-kansas
Clearwater, KS

No matter what gift you choose be sure it comes from the Heart!

a kid at heart, noticing the details

Pros

Personal, From the Heart

JUN

2008

The Best Father's Day Gift! —

I backed off of Mother's Day gifts because even after 16 years I can't get over the hurt of losing my Mom. That was selfish of me because Mom was my Best Friend! Just over 3 years ago I also lost my Dad and it will hurt for the rest of my Life but I wanted to write this to maybe help others about what gift to give on Father's Day.

We have all went to pick out cards to give Dad on his Special Day but do you really read the words or just rush through it? I would stand and look at cards sometimes for 30 minutes or more to find one that tugged at my heart. That way I knew it meant something and Dad would get that same feeling as well. He always did and he saved every card we ever gave him in a shoebox he kept in the closet.

That was just a card to some but to Dad it meant a lot, especially after we grew up, got married and moved away. After I moved out of state picking a gift got harder and harder for me. I wanted something he would cherish and not end up in his sock drawer or the bottom of his closet. So I made a promise to myself that I would visit (if possible) or at least call him every Father's Day. He always said it was the best gift I could have gotten him and that touched me deeply. It wasn't material possessions he wanted, he just wanted to be a part of my life.

I would drive 800 miles just to sit and talk to him, share some memories and drink coffee with the man I admired in my life. He never criticized me but he always listened and that's what counted. He always thanked me for coming to see him and when I couldn't we would talk on the phone, he loved it but to me it just wasn't the same.

Now that Dad is gone I still have my visits with him, if only in my mind but I feel his presence just the same. Some people think they have to buy a gift on Father's Day, my Dad taught me different. He remembered the personal touch more than any store bought gift he ever got.

Bottom Line

The age old saying "It's not the gift but the Thought that counts" is only partly right in my mind. If the gift is not Personal in nature then all the thought in the world is not going to make it any better! I don't care how busy your life is, you only have one set of Parents in this life. Grab those car keys, get a plane ticket and if you can't afford it then grab the phone and call!

Once your Parents are gone it is too late to think "I should have done it different" The time I spent with my Dad will always be with me and the look on his face when I knocked on his door will always be precious in my Heart!

The best Father's Day gift that you can give is your time! It is not on the shelf of a store, it is not a card picked out in a hurry. The Best Father's Day Gift is YOU!

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!

Last edited on Jun 13, 2008

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Comments about kid-kansas’s Review

In response to Ihjaco's comment from Jun 20, 2008 at 1:25PM:

Thank you! ;)

Moving, very lovely.

In response to MikeMaroon's comment from Jun 19, 2008 at 6:58PM:

Thanks Mike! I lost my Mom in 92' to cancer as well and Dad of heart failure when he was 88. I went out of my way to spend time with Dad but I wish I could have visited more.

You nailed it, bud. Lost mom to cancer in 1994 and Dad is 73. You are right the thing the want most is our time, the one thing we are often loath to give. Very nice.

In response to CrystaBush's comment from Jun 17, 2008 at 11:02PM:

Thanks Crysta! The honor was all mine. He showed me sacrifice by working the night shift, even though it kept him away from us because he knew it paid more. He never asked for anything but made sure we had what we needed and a lot of what we wanted.

I'm just catching up, Ron.
It must have been a great honor for your Father to have you as a Son. :)
Great job, my friend. :)

In response to Jolie's comment from Jun 16, 2008 at 9:59AM:

Thank you Jolie! Yep there has to be feeling behind the thought for it to be meaningful. ;)

What a nice tribute to your Dad. I agree that we all too often forget how important the small things are-- and that they are actually BIG. :)

In response to LoveisJoy's comment from Jun 15, 2008 at 8:41AM:

Thank you! ;)

Ron, this is such a beautiful tribute to your father and a poignant reminder to all of us who read it. I know that your dad must have been proud of you, and prouder still to look down and know that you have shared your story with others. :)

In response to Telpher's comment from Jun 14, 2008 at 11:27PM:

I hope so, I know his eyes always lit up when I showed up at his door. We used to spend all day fishing and talking, it was great even when we didn't catch anything...lol ;)

I bet your dad was really proud to have raised such a thoughtful son.

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Jun 14, 2008 at 3:32PM:

Thank you Anna.....That means a lot to me, Dad was my Hero. He once told me "Any man can be a Father but it takes a real man to be a Daddy!" I may be prejudice but I believe I had the Best Daddy Ever! ;)

In response to LisaCarey's comment from Jun 14, 2008 at 3:09PM:

Thank you Lisa, Memories are ours forever and I know one day I will see him again

You know, Ron, I think this review should get some sort of special award or something. It's one of the best I have ever read.

How wonderful and sweet Ron, Father's day is a tough one and I miss not being able to see my dad this special day. I just have to be happy with my visit with him last month.

In response to joyjoy's comment from Jun 14, 2008 at 12:54PM:

Yep......as a kid all I wanted was to have Dad spend time with me as his work schedule during school only allowed me to see him 2 days a week. After I grew up I made it a point to visit him as often as I could. Of all my memories the times I spent with my parents are my most cherished ones. ;)

My mother was always trying to get my father to add a note to the letters she wrote to her in-laws. He never did but my brother learned from it. The most cherished gifts they received from him were his time and personal letters.