Happy Father's Day!

Years ago, I read an article that has stayed with me ever since. This was back in the day before cell phones were so prominent and it cost a lot of money to make a long distance call.

One Mother’s Day, a phone company decided to do something kind for the inmates at a prison. They offered free long-distance calls so the men could call home. The lines were full all day.

It was such a success that they tried the same thing on Father’s Day. But no one showed up.

That story isn’t meant to say that children without fathers will end up in prison. We all know how complex life can get.

But it was a powerful reminder of how important a good father is in the lives of his children.

I want to honor those fathers who show up in the big ways and the little ones. You may not make headlines for your efforts, but you shape futures.

So, to the dads, grandpas, stepdads, uncles, mentors, and stand-in fathers: thank you! What you do matters, more than words can say.

Happy Father’s Day.