Sunday, June 15, 2008

Fantabulous Fathers by Angie Ledbetter

"My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." - C. B. Kelland

"Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope." - Bill Cosby

It's Father's Day today, and in honor of all the men I know who are good daddies, great "fill-ins," wonderful role models and awesome menfolk, this post is for you.

If all the men in the world were like Oren, what good children there would be. Dad Oren has spent much of his adult life giving of himself to his own two kids and many others he's not even related to. He has coached baseball, led Boy Scouts from cubs to Eagle Scouts and beyond, and taken part in their faith journeys. Dedication, hard work, and self-sacrifice are characteristics that come easily to this dad.

If fathers bonded with their baby boys and girl, sharing in the not-so-pleasant diapering, feeding, bathing, and hands-on duties the way Ken does, kids would grow up knowing they are loved. There'd also be a lot more moms who feel cherished and appreciated.

If all stepfathers loved, were involved with and cared about their stepchildren as well as Gene and Bob do, what better families we would have.

I am grateful for your presence, your "right priorities," and your modeling of what's important in children's lives. I'm blessed and thankful my own Daddy embodies all these traits and more. Thanks, guys, and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

6 comments:

Kathryn Magendie said...

Happy Father's Day to my Dad (another Gene!), and to my "Other Dad" Frank.....two very different men, special in their own ways, and who I am glad are still around even though they are as old as dirt *haw haw*!

Barbara Quinn said...

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. My son is now a father-to-be and I'm looking forward to watching him enjoy the role of dad. My husband, Tom, has always been a terrific dad. I lost my Dad almost 2 years ago and he is missed. Hug those Dads and enjoy the day!

Barb
(FOOA - hehe)

Anonymous said...

Angie,
Thanks for the humbling mention. With Dads like we grew up with, it is a daunting job trying to live up to the standard they set. Dennis is one of a kind and the skills he has taught our boys (and yours) will hold them in good stead for years to come.
Love to all Dads. We do not say this often enough.
Oren (FOA)
Thanks for the blog. It is fun reading everyday

Anonymous said...

As the wife of Oren and the mother of his two children I thank God daily for bringing Oren into my life. I don't know what I did to deserve him, but I am grateful and blessed.
Happy Father's Day to all dads!
Cathie May

Angie Ledbetter said...

Love to you all--whether moms, dads, fill-ins, or whatever. You make life so much better and your kindnesses spread in an ever-widening circle to make the world a better place. Hooo-ah!

And LOL to Kat and her old as dirt Dads and to Barb and her "FOOA." Smiling on this good Sunday straight from 3 hours at a baseball tourney. eww. ;)

Mary Ann Ledbetter said...

Angie,
Gratitude means getting a catch in your heart when reading your column. When reading along and stopping to blink and think, "I know Dennis! What a grand BIL and father." When reading further and wondering which Ken and then sitting up straight to say, "That's my Ken, my beautiful older son!" When writing a comment to you and hearing your younger son, on my Ken, Sr's, laptop, building a Father's Day web site from Austin for his father. Even if it is a deer site for "Bubbas," as I just heard my husband say.

Thank you.

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