14 Inspiring Resources That Will Help Families Celebrate Dad This Weekend
June 16th, 2017Father’s Day usually brings about thoughts of corny coffee mugs, patterned ties, and goofy aprons about being “king of the grill.” It’s an excuse to buy Dad a dorky card to make him laugh and to give us a way to say how much we love him, because there’s no such thing as saying it too much.
But for people who no longer have their fathers with them, Father’s Day can be a difficult and lonely holiday. However, just because someone may have lost their father too soon doesn’t mean that they have to stop celebrating them. After all, the role of a father lives on long after the person is gone. So embrace the holiday, remember the moments that made up an amazing life, and celebrate dad like he’s still with you… because truthfully, he is.
Families can still enjoy the heartwarming feelings that make Father’s Day special by making it a day to proactively remember, celebrate, share, and honor all of the amazing things that make up their father’s lives. And funeral professionals can help transition that thinking.
In this profession, we have the privilege of helping families turn the tables on Father’s Day, from mourning the loss of a father to celebrating, sharing, and enjoying the special role their father played in their lives.
To help families get started, here is a list of some of the most moving, inspiring, uplifting resources that we could find that will help families who have lost their fathers celebrate and feel more connected to them on Father’s Day (and all year long).
Moving Articles That Help You Connect
1. “Keeping A Father’s Memory Alive” by Melissa Pihos
Remembering a loved one can happen anywhere. In this article, Pihos shares how she used her passion for dance to find a way to reconnect with the memory of her father. She describes how her artistic efforts allowed her to connect with her father through his work, as well as allow her to better connect with herself.
“My dad meant the world to me. He was my hero and I always looked up to him. He was one of the most positive persons I have ever known — larger than life — and he has inspired me in ways that I continue to discover.”
Her article is a beautiful reminder that a father-child relationship is never truly gone. It may inspire someone to find a way to use their creativity, passion, and talents to feel connected with their father’s life.
2. “Death Of My Father: Transformation Of My Rock” by Audrey Jacobs
This intimately honest story is about how the loss of her father “emboldened” Jacobs to be a strong, safe place for her own family. Written just 30 days after her father passed away, this is a relatable yet positive read for anyone who has recently lost their own father.
“I pray we all have a rock in our lives; that person that loves you unconditionally, defends you fiercely, kicks your ass when needed, and encourages you to chase your dreams.”
3. “What Losing My Father Taught Me About Father’s Day” by Krystal Penrose
This touching story is a reminder that the selfless love of a father can still be felt years and decades after they’re gone. Penrose lost her father figure when she was only three years old, but the impact of her father’s love has stayed with her for a lifetime.
“I was only three years old when Dennis died, but through his presence and his absence, I’ve learned so much. I’ve learned what selflessness, passion, and true character are. I’ve learned that God doesn’t always keep you around for as long as you expect, so make the best of it.”
4. “Celebrating Father’s Day Without Dad” by Zak Stone
For Stone, Father’s Day always reminds him of his dad’s specific sense of style, which he shares in this touching story about how fathers leave a lasting impact in our lives. For Zak, his father’s memory can always be found in some of the clothing items he keeps in his closet. This story shows the importance of objects that help channel a loved one’s memory into our daily lives.
“Sometimes I can hear my mom talking to him under her breath. When I ask her what she tells him, she says, “Everything.” When we have dinner with other people, she’ll relate stories about dad or the ones he would’ve told. As we talk about him together — often while I’m wearing something of his — it can feel like Father’s Day whenever we want.”
There is no shortage of moving tributes when it comes to celebrating fathers. Want to check out even more articles, videos and songs that honor Dad? Check out this post → 8 Touching Father’s Day Tributes Guaranteed To Make You Laugh Or Cry
Meaningful Activities That Help You Celebrate
5. Write A Profile Story of Dad
Many people write letters, cards, or notes to their fathers on Father’s Day, but these letters may be too difficult to write for someone who has recently lost their father. A twist on this activity may help your families find a way to feel connected to their father. Instead of writing to your father, write a note or letter about your father to someone who never met him. Describing a father’s sense of humor or sharing a meaningful story about a father allows the writer to feel even more connected to the things that made their father truly special.
6. Plant A Tree In His Name
There’s something innately inspiring about watching a tree grow. Planting a tree in the name of a loved one is a wonderful way to make celebrating their memory tangible, permanent, and meaningful. A tree provides a beautiful place for families to return when they want to feel reconnected to their father. It can also become the cornerstone of a new Father’s Day tradition of having a picnic or sharing stories under the tree. Planting a tree is an activity that families may also wish to incorporate into their father’s celebration of life service.
7. Gather Family for a Meal or a Toast
The best celebrations always seem to incorporate food. Gathering friends together for a Father’s Day meal at their loved one’s favorite restaurant gives them a chance to celebrate Father’s Day while reminiscing about their father. Even the simple act of making a toast with their father’s favorite drink can help families feel more connected to the memory of their father, especially if they’re celebrating without the rest of their family.
Inspiring Quotes That Lift Your Spirit
Quotes are a great way to add impact to the things you might already be personalizing for your families, such as Life Tribute videos, magnet boards, or photo displays.
You can also recommend that your families share these quotes when they share photos and stories of their fathers on social media. Social media posts give people a chance to celebrate and share memories of their father with the rest of their family members, both near and far. Adding one of these quotes to a photo caption of a father can make sharing the memory even more impactful.
8. “The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himself, but for his family.” – Reed Markham
9. “It is not flesh and blood but the heart which makes us fathers and sons.” – Johann Friedrich von Schiller
10. “To her, the name of father was another name for love.” – Fanny Fern
11. “No music is so pleasant to my ears as that word – father.” – Lydia Maria Child
12. “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me.” Jim Valvano
13. “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” – Clarence B. Kelland
14. “When my father didn’t have my hand … he had my back.” – Linda Poindexter
If you want more inspiration on where to use quotes, click here for our list of personalization ideas that honor dads on Father’s day and all year-round.
The resources above are only a small sample of unique, memorable ways that families can celebrate fathers. Be sure to share some of your own favorite ideas for remembering, honoring and celebrating fathers, both for Father’s Day or all year round, in the comments below!
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