Sunday Homily 6-20-10, Father’s Day & 12th Ordinary Time
Readings: Zephaniah 12, 10-11, 13, 1; Psalm 63, My Soul is Thirsting for You, O Lord my God; Galatians 3, 26-29; Luke 9, 18-24.
Father's Day, A Brief History:
Mother’s Day background:
1. In reaction to the Civil War horror, Julia Ward Howe proposed a Mother’s Day, ca. 1870. It became a custom in some communities.
2. Picking up the idea later was Anna Jarvis who influenced President Wilson to declare it a national May holiday, 1912.
Father’s Day:
1. As a compliment celebration, Sonora Smart Dodd in
2. Her history played a role here, because she had great affection for her dad, a Civil War Vet, who took care of the family as sole parent when his wife died giving birth to their 6th child.
3.
4. LBJ finally designated it to be celebrated the 3rd Sunday of June. 55 other countries celebrate on the same day.
5. President Nixon finally got it established as a national holiday. Date 1972.
A Father’s Day Story
This event happened in mid-March. I was out in the back yard on a Monday morning about 7:30. I remember it was sunny, which was rare this past March.
Do not tell my physical therapist that I was out in the yard walking around with my cane or walker. I don’t remember which. I know I was still home bound for another couple of weeks from the second hip replacement. There was a fear I would fall down and dislocate the thing.
I know it was Monday because we have our recycle material pick up and I was out putting stuff in the container in the alley.
At some point I am walking back to the porch and the back door, taking the long route to see how many pecan branches had fallen in the yard. I’m out near the edge of our property where it touches the little north-
Along comes an elderly guy I had seen once or twice earlier in the year (probably younger than I am). He was headed to the Starbucks on Royal & Preston. We have a fair amount of foot traffic from the neighborhood pass our corner headed to Starbucks for their morning fix.
He says to me, “You have a really nice yard here.” Now when he says this, I’m thinking I did not hear him because our yard is a winter mess, lots of small branches still lying around from the first snow fall, everything ragged and unkempt.
So I say, “Thanks, but the yard is really a mess right now and I cannot do anything about it for another month or so.” And he responds, “Yes, but you really do keep a beautiful place here.”
I thank him again and he continues on toward Starbucks.
I was dumbstruck and touched. I do attempt to maintain a pretty place. It is like therapy for me. Yet this is the first time a passing stranger has ever complimented me on it. That compliment made my day and it stuck with me. It even gave me this shot of energy which made me want to go out and clean the place up, but I couldn’t.
The power of a compliment or positive stroke! They give life. I have subsequently found out this guy’s name is Harold and he is both a dad and a grand dad. He has a gift. It is a gift we all have
When and to whom do you dads put the gift to use?
Picture 1: Sienna helping with the beginning of Mass
Picture 2: Special Blessing of Males by the Women, Sandra
Picture 3: Kiddie Korner, Kayla & Cici
Picture 4: Sam with his Momma, Pam