Father's Day has been celebrated on the third Sunday in June since 1966 no matter what date it falls on. This year it is celebrated on Sunday, June 18. It follows Mother's Day that was on the second Sunday in May. It is a special occasion that reminds us to pause and thank the men in our lives who have taken on the responsibility of raising children.
Father's Day is much like Mother's Day that was celebrated on May 14. Fathers are given cards and gifts and taken out to dinner. Restaurants are sure to be full on Sunday, and perhaps there will be special dishes prepared with fathers in mind.
Origin of Father's Day
Father's Day is just one day to celebrate fathers even though fathers can be honored and respected on other days as well. It is a special day when the entire nation pays tribute to the fathers and father figures in their lives.
Father's Day had been celebrated before President Lyndon Baines Johnson made it official in 1966. It was President Richard M. Nixon who made it an accepted national holiday in 1972.
President's proclamation
Each year, the sitting president makes a proclamation for the day to be remembered. On June 16, 2017, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation for this year's Father's Day. He called on United States government officials to display the American flag on all government buildings on Father's Day and invite state and local governments and the people of the United States to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies.
In the main part of the proclamation, President Trump encouraged fathers to put their children first and to create loving and supportive environments for them. He suggested that children should take June 18 to express their love and appreciation for fathers everywhere. He made sure to say that fathers can be by birth, adoption, or foster care.
Lastly, the president said the incredible fathers are to be honored for all they have done and continue to do.
Biblical fathers
Preachers will more than likely preach sermons on Sunday that focus on fathers in some way. Either they will preach messages to children telling them how to treat their fathers, or they will give fathers advice about raising their children.
Either way, the sermon will be a good one.
There are a lot of biblical patriarchs who can be used as examples, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. Paul did not have biological children, but he had sons in the ministry, such as Timothy and Titus. Abraham was known as "the father of many nations."
