On Father's Day, thank the children

Father's Day ought to be a day to thank children for putting up with fathers. They teach their dads patience, tolerance and unconditional love.

When my children were young, Ernst Hardware and Holladay Lumber were the fun places to go on Saturday mornings — or so I told them. For me, it was great; I could be with my children and at the same time check out the latest tools and gadgets. They seemed to buy the idea they were having fun.

That was when they were little. As they grew older, they still joined me in going to those places. Now I think it was to please their dad. It was their way of showing me love and patience. That's the joy of being a father.

Father's Day was always a day to spoil dad, and I was showered with homemade cards, clay handprints, pictures and special gifts. Since I trained them properly, gifts included tools that I had seen during previous visits to Ernst.

On one Father's Day I was surprised with a special gift, a red bike with fenders, a basket and a bell. What made it special was the handmade card that was attached to the bike: "Happy Father's Day! To a great Dad. May you have as much love for us as we have for you. Love, The Daddy Fund, Inc."

For months they had been saving their allowance and earnings to buy this present for their dad. It brought tears to my eyes.

Though I knew I had trained them well to give their dad gifts for Father's Day, nevertheless, I was not going to leave things to chance. As they grew up and left home, I didn't want them to forget the big day. So several weeks before Father's Day, I started sending them reminder alerts that also included where I was registered for gifts: Home Depot, Sutherland, True Value, Grand Central and Kmart. However, I had the good taste to not list the gifts I liked — they knew.

Now that they are grown, I understand the joy I saw in my mother's face when she knew my older brother and sister were coming by. It made her day and nourished her soul. It makes me think that instead of receiving gifts on Father's Day, I should be thanking my children for the blessing and joy they have been and bring in to my life. Father's Day lets me take the time to reminisce about the happiness I felt watching my children grow and sharing time with them. I now realize going to Ernst was not about the store, but rather the journey and sharing moments with my children.