My husband always jokes that most holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day are just a scam the greeting card companies came up with as a ploy to boost their sales. He’s probably not wrong, but I insist I am worth celebrating (and so is he), holiday scam or not. Days of celebration like Father’s Day can become very commercialized if we approach it simply to celebrate and not to honor and encourage the man we call “Dad.” Life gets busy, and as we rush from one event to the next, the faithful love of a dad can easily become overlooked and unappreciated. So, how do we make this holiday something more? Instead of a tie or an overpriced card, maybe this year needs a Father’s Day jar of gratitude. A jar of gratitude is a tangible way we can honor and encourage the men in our lives for their time, love, hard work, and sacrifice.
(Sidenote: Father’s Day can be a painful reminder of a loss or lack of fatherly presence in our lives. Loss is a new experience for me this year, as I know what it is like to be loved well by a father, and now that love is missing. For others, it isn’t necessarily a deep loss, but instead the pain of never having a loving father’s care. In either case, think about the men in your life that have acted in a protective, loving, godly way and use this idea to thank them.)
Step One: Find a sturdy, small to medium container for your gift. It could be a metal tin, wooden box, a glass jar, or even a heavy-duty cardboard box. Decide as a family how you’d like to decorate it—paints, markers, stickers, photos, or just keep it clean and classic. The options are endless and should be personalized to your family and the man you’re honoring. This part is a great chance for younger children to add their unique touch to the gift.
Step Two: Once the container is decorated, move on to your printable cards. Use these free, printable downloads to fill the container with special messages for Dad. The printable cards are color coordinated for different age groups—blue for the youngest family members, yellow for older kids/teens, and green for wives. In the week leading up to Father’s Day, spend time as a family (without Dad) quietly filling up your container with encouraging notes, memories, scripture verses, and prayers. Maybe add 52 special cards with the intention of Dad opening one each Monday for a year. You could also choose to fill your container just enough to be read all at once. Remember, no matter how you decide to create it, this gift should remind Dad of just how special he is and acknowledge all the ways he loves his family well. Don’t forget to add some spiritually encouraging messages too!
Step Three: Gift your box! Surprise Dad with the box at family devotions or at lunch on Father’s Day and spend time remembering those moments together. Once opened, the cards don’t have to stay in the box. They can be taped to a truck dashboard, put in a desk drawer, or used as bookmarks in a Bible to help your guy remember just how important he is to your family.
I pray this Father’s Day finds many families using the holiday to encourage the men who love their people and God well. Feel free to leave a comment or pictures below telling us how you celebrated and why the guy in your life is so special. Happy Father’s Day!
Stephanie McMillian is a homeschool mom and ministry partner to her husband, Aaron. She treasures her faith, her marriage, and raising their three children. When she’s not teaching at home or supporting her husband in ministry, she can usually be found hiking outdoors or enjoying whatever BBQ Aaron has smoking that day.
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