Father’s Day isn’t just about the cards, the gifts, or the grilled steaks. It’s about the memories—the small, tucked-away ones that drift back without warning.
Like the sound of his keys jingling as he came through the door. The way he said your name when he was proud—or when you were in trouble (When your FULL name is used!). The way his hand seemed twice the size of yours when you held it, crossing the street.
We don’t always realize it when we’re young, but fathers carry the weight of so many silent promises. To protect. To provide. To be a foundation, even when the world feels unsteady. And they don’t always get credit for how hard that can be. They just keep showing up, day after day.
Some of us were fortunate to grow up with that steady, reassuring presence—a dad who was always there. Others found that same kind of love in unexpected places: a coach who believed in us, a teacher who listened, a neighbor or mentor who showed up when it mattered most. And while Father’s Day can carry a quiet ache for those missing someone or longing for what never was, it can also be a reminder of the incredible impact one good father figure can have on a life, no matter how or when they show up.
For me, Father’s Day is a day to pause. To think about the way dads teach us without words. The way they show love in actions—tightening the loose screws on life. Showing up when we needed them, even when they were tired. Steering us through the chaos when we couldn’t see the road ahead, even when we were stubborn, hard-headed, and didn’t want to listen.
So if you have a dad you can call, call him. If you have one you miss, talk to him anyway. And if your relationship is complicated, that’s okay too. Sometimes just remembering, or trying, is its kind of love.
Father’s Day may only be one Sunday in June, but the impact of a father lasts a lifetime.
