A Tribute to Father’s Day

I was recently introduced to a beautiful blog post written by Amy Young. It was a tribute to mothers on Mother's Day - to all categories of mothers - in the broadest sense of the word.  It authentically acknowledged the complexity and unique role of motherhood and the many iterations through which this special role is fulfilled.   

Similarly, Father’s Day is a time to celebrate, reflect, and honor the many men who embody the sacred calling of fatherhood. But as with many things in life, this day holds both joy and complexity. Not all experiences of fatherhood look the same. Some are marked by delight, others by sorrow, distance, hope, or healing. 

I've personally experienced a long season in my life when I loathed Father's Day. It was painful to acknowledge and felt overwhelming to endure. In fact, for years I avoided church and social media completely on Father's Day weekend. Too frequently, the celebration made many feel unseen.  

The following tribute is modeled after, and inspired by, Amy’s blog. It is an offering to all who carry the mantle of “father” - in body, in spirit, by title, or in role. May it speak to your story, your strength, and your sacred place in the lives of others.

A Tribute to Fathers

by Kevin J Fleming, Ph.D.

To those who became fathers this year for the first time—

we celebrate the spark of life and legacy you now carry.

To those who lost a child this year—

we mourn with you, and witness your silent strength.

To those in the thick of late-night feeds, sticky fingers, and endless “Why?” questions—

we honor your presence, patience, and playful grit.

To those navigating grief from miscarriage, failed adoption, or estrangement—

we grieve with you, and hold space for the ache only you know.

To those walking the desert path of infertility—

we walk beside you. May our words be fewer and our compassion deeper.

To those who are foster fathers, mentor dads, coaches, and spiritual fathers—

we need your strength, your time, your guidance. You are fathering futures.

To those whose bond with their children is deep and joyful—

we celebrate with you. What a gift.

To those whose fatherhood bears the weight of heartache, distance, or regret—

we sit with you in the complexity, without judgment.

To those mourning their fathers this year—

we grieve with you, for every unspoken word and treasured memory.

To those wounded by fathers who failed or harmed—

we acknowledge your pain. It should not have been so.

To those who’ve weathered report cards, broken curfews, and broken hearts—

we are stronger and more grounded because of you.

To those bracing for the quiet of an emptying house—

we rejoice and mourn with you. A chapter closes, but your fatherhood endures.

To those standing in as father figures when another man could not or would not—

you embody sacrificial strength. We honor you.

To those holding the tension of fierce protection and open-handed release—

you mirror our Father in heaven, whose love never controls but always surrounds.

To the fathers who carry provision like armor, yet lead with gentleness—

you reflect the Imago Dei, the image of God — valiant, steadfast, and tender.

To be a father is to walk with courage through uncertainty, to offer both rootedness and

release, and to provide presence more than perfection. Fathering is not for the faint of

heart, and we have mighty warriors in our midst.

Whether you are a father by blood, by choice, or by calling, your investment matters.

Your quiet strength matters. Your example matters. The seeds you sow in faith,

consistency, and love will bear fruit— in ways you may never fully see.

This Father’s Day, may you be reminded: We see you. We value you. We remember

you. And we walk with you. The world is better because of fathers like you.