by Shaelynn Miller, contributing writer
Love is shown in different ways: a hug, a pat on the shoulder, kind words, gifts or acts of service. These things are small, but they mean a great deal to the receiver.
My dad showed love through the things he did for me each day. One afternoon, as I sat in my car about to go to work, I noticed my dad had filled up the car with gas. It was a simple act, but it saved me time from having to stop for it.
My dad showed love through the giant bags of Otter Pops he bought for us in the summer, the camping trips he planned for the family and the time he took to teach me how to do taxes.
One expression of his love that I will never forget was at the time I was planning my wedding. We didn’t have room in the budget for food, so I decided that was something we would have to go without. My dad stretched the budget a little so that we could have a few appetizers and some punch. It meant the world to me that he did that. He sacrificed money he could have spent on something else, and he chose to spend it on me.
These are only a few of the ways my dad showed his love for me, but there is one that tops them all. The way he treats my mother, and the way he shows his love for her is the greatest way my dad shows his love for me and my siblings. My dad stands as an example to me of how a husband should treat his wife, and I will always be grateful for that.
Dads, you don’t have to do anything extravagant or even spend a lot of money on your kids to show your love for them. It is the little acts of kindness that will have the most impact on them, and that will stay in their memory for years to come.
Dads, this day is about celebrating your love and sacrifices for your children.
Happy Father’s Day!
