Thank You Sonora Smart Dodd

Sonora Smart Dodd is more important than we realize.  Sonora was born in 1882 in Sebastian County Arkansas, to parents William Jackson Smart and Ellen Victoria Cheek Smart.  Sonora's father fought in the Civil War at the Battle of Pea Ridge.  After the Civil War ended, William Smart moved his growing family West to Spokane Washington.  Sonora's life was altered at 16 years old, when her mother died giving birth to her 6th child.  William Smart raised all six children by himself and Sonora held him in the highest regard due to his examples of strength and family.  In 1909, Sonora was so moved during a church sermon dedicated to the newly nominated celebration of Mother's Day and felt that there should be a celebration of fathers.  Sonora then pushed for a recognition of fathers on her father's birthday June 5th.  The day was then changed to the third Sunday in June and was officially celebrated as Father's Day on June 19th, 1910 in Spokane Washington.  Father's Day wasn't Nationally celebrated until 1916 and was recognized by President Lyndon Johnson with a presidential proclamation in 1966.  President Richard Nixon made Father's Day an officially recognized holiday in 1972, signing it into law

Father's Day is now observed on the third Sunday in June in 55 Countries and many more on other days.

Our modern observance of Father's Day consists of a "special day," for fathers where we get to do whatever we want right?  Our favorite dinner, total dominance of the remote control, maybe some golf, fishing...
I started to see Father's Day differently this year.  I think that I, as a father, owe the thanks to my wife and children.  On this Father's Day I want to recognize not only the people who define me as a father, but who more importantly make me feel so special that I am their father.  If I consider even for a moment what my life would be like without my wife and children, I am profoundly less of a person than I am with them.  I have every Father's Day card that I ever received and reviewing them yesterday I was moved to tears.  From the early cards written in my wife's handwriting, to the scribbled letters saying, "I love you daddy," they not only serve to mark my children's growth, but they also mark my own growth.
Now young adults, my children's Father's Day cards are more detailed and the messages show more retrospection of their father's life.

I remember my feelings on Father's Day cards to my father and remember my own emotions and perspective of him as a father.  The cycle repeats as all history seems to do and time demands comparison of my father and my children's perspective of their father.  Time and love helps us all to reflect more on the good and deny the bad, at least in our mind's eye and thank God for that.

I have already been asked what I would like for my "special dinner." What would I like to do on my, "special day."  I contemplate deeply for my answer and I realized that it is not my day at all.  It is a day that I will celebrate those special people who make it my, "special day."

Just as Sonora Smart Dodd passed from this earth in 1978, our father's also pass away however, on the third Sunday in June, we celebrate fathers, both of today and yesterday.  We remember father's that have died and yet the lessons of fatherhood remain with us forever.  We take the lessons, both good and bad, and we strive to become the best fathers possible.  This journey is not without challenge, not without setbacks and certainly not without disappointment.  It wasn't during times of success that my father taught me how to be successful, but through his fight for redemption.   It wasn't during times of bravery that I learned to be brave, but through his example of facing his fears.  It wasn't during times of great joy that I learned to be joyful, but through my father's times of despair.

We all have a concept of what makes a good father.  Maybe by example or maybe by observation, but we can all list the qualities that make a great father.  So, on Father's Day, should we strive to celebrate our own fatherhood?  Should we celebrate those who were our fathers?  I think, just as Sonora Smart Dodd originally thought one-hundred years ago, let's celebrate the honor of the man who sacrificed to be a father and celebrate those who make us fathers.  Let's live every day in remembrance of our father's successes and in awe that we are blessed to be added to that esteemed list of men called fathers.

On the third Sunday in June, 2010, I am so thankful that I am a father.  I am so thankful that on this day I can remember the incredible gift that I have been given every Father's Day...the name, "Father."  Special day?  I have never had anything but special days, ever since that first card, the first "I love you daddy," the first time I was called a father.

It is somewhat odd that Father's Day was originated by a woman, but then again, who greater to understand the magic of fatherhood?  Today I thank you Mrs. Smart-Dodd, for all of the fathers that you considered worthy of a special day called, Father's Day.

Enjoy this poem written about fathers
       by Sonora Smart Dodd

Musings of a Madonna 

I did not know the earth’s warm breast 

 Gave life to every tree, 

Or that the mountains wooed the sun 

 Until you came to me. 

I did not know that rains must fall 

 To set young seedlings free, 

Or that the snowflakes mantle them 

 Until you came to me. 

I did not know that rivers rush 

 To feed the hungry sea, 

Or that the heavens guard the tides 

 Until you came to me. 

I did not know that lullabies 

 Of God’s own symphony, 

Or that I am as one with Him 

 Until you came to me.