He was/is the man who left/leaves the house daily to earn a living so his family had/has the necessities of life with a few extras here and there.
He was/is the man who taught/teaches you how to plant flowers, catch and throw balls, ride bikes, drive cars, or use hammers or saws. He was/is the man who set/sets up an "allowance" system for you to learn how to budget, save, and/or wisely spend money. He was/is the man who emphasized/ emphasizes the value of an education and its importance on you and those who might depend on you in the future.
He was/is the man who picked/picks you up after you fell/fall as a kid, and dusted/dusts you off, and told/tells you to get back on that bike, or up that tree, or on those skates. He was/is the man who went/goes with you when you picked/pick out that first car making sure you didn't/don't get taken.
He was/is the man who taught/teaches you the value of earning an honest day's wage in exchange for a hard day's work. He was/is the man who sat/sits with you when you were/are a little girl needing him to be a guest at your tea party. He was/is the man who carefully screened/screens every boy who came/comes to the house to pick you up for a date.
He was/is the man who felt/feels more pain than you knew/know when he had/has to discipline you for anything. He was/is the man who volunteered/volunteers to coach your soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, wrestling teams or any team, even though the sport might not have been/be all that familiar to him, but did/does it because no one else came/comes forward.
He was/is the man who taught/teaches you proper respect for God, man, country and self. He was/is the man who emphasized/emphasizes respect for, and how to properly treat, women, how to act in relationships, how to uphold the holiness and sanctity of marriage if you chose/choose to go that route sometime in your life.
He was/is the man who reminded/reminds you that God was/is a huge part of life and you need to offer up a "thank you" every now and then. He was/is the man who taught/teaches you how to keep score at ball games, who took/takes you to see your favorite team every now and then, who bought/buys you a hot dog and loved/loves seeing that blob of mustard or ketchup on your cheek as you ate/eat it.
He was/is the man who put/puts up that swing set, tree house, or batting cage in your backyard so you could/can have more fun and do it in the safety of your own backyard. He was/is the man who sat/sits up until the wee hours of Christmas morning putting together that "assembly required" item at the top of your Santa list.
He was/is the man who accepted/accepts that he was/is the dumbest man in the world in the eyes of his kids for a time in their lives, but still continued/continues to give advice, make suggestions, expect behaviors, realizing that popularity in the eyes of his children couldn't/can't cloud his judgment or it would/will hurt his children.
He was/is the man who co-signed/co-signs that car loan, college loan, or the loan to help you buy a house, so you could/can have things in your life better than he had/has. He was/is the man who sat/sits you down at an early age and tripped/trips over his tongue trying to explain the facts of life to you. He was/is the man who hurts deep inside as he walks you down the aisle on the most important day of your life because he realized/realizes that you don't need him anymore, yet was/is overjoyed for you and so proud of the person you became/have become and how beautiful you were/are at that/this moment.
He was/is the man who felt/feels your pain when you dropped/drop that key pass, when you struck/strike out at that key moment in the game, when you missed/miss that key basket or goal when the game was/is on the line, but was/is there to greet you when you came/come through the door or fence gate and put/puts an arm around you and told/tells you how proud of you he was/is right then.
He was/is the man who taught/teaches you to be creative, thrifty and conserving, when it came/comes to home, car, and/or finances. He was/is the man who served/serves his country with pride and had/has respect for the blanket of freedom which all Americans enjoyed/enjoy because of that service. He was/is the man who wiped/wipes the tear from his eye when you walked/walk down that auditorium aisle to greet the dean, chancellor or principal as he/she hands you that diploma.
He was/is the man who taught/teaches you the value of hard work and that you couldn't/can't get something for nothing in this life. He was/is the man who understood/understands that even after his lectures on money and spending still realized/realizes that you may have needed/may need a couple of bucks for gas and he slipped/slips you a twenty before you left/leave the house. He was/is the man who took/takes the weight of the whole world onto his shoulders to make sure you had/have every opportunity you could/can have.
He was/is DAD, and today is his day. Today, I honor the memories of my Dad and Sally's Dad. I honor both my sons-in-law for being excellent fathers, and I honor all the fathers of all of our lives. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!