This post is shared today from my faith blog, “Girl Meets Paper.”
Our kids were still wrapping up their school year during the first week of June, but my mind was already on vacation. The thought of making lunches for the kids — and thereby crafting a grocery list — was lost in the pile of papers, reminder slips, and party requests that came whirling through the door as soon as the bus dropped off our brood.

So when Wednesday rolled around and our fridge was bursting only with condiments and multiple pickle selections, I stood claiming my new title as thee anti-June Cleaver. No fresh fruit. No cookies. No bread.

I promised the worried faces behind me that I’d run to the store, grab a few essentials, and then drive their lunches up to school. They consented and commanded me not to forget. I nodded and realized I’d have to get ditch the pajamas and work some sort of miracle with my hair–and in short order.

Once the kids were safely on their way, however, I began to think, “You know, YES, I could run to the store and assemble an award-winning lunch. Yes, I could deliver it to their school, complete with a little note of encouragement. But wouldn’t it be more special for them to see their dad arrive with lunch?”

Usually, my husband’s job doesn’t allow for this kind of spontaneity, but this day was miraculously different. He agreed to pick up subs, surprise the kids at school, and take them to a nearby park for a picnic. When it was all done and he stopped home, I’ll never forget the joy on his face:

“Thanks for letting me do that.

…That was so much fun.”

Wow. I could have easily grabbed “best-mom-ever” status for myself that day. I could have hopped on board the “free lunch” train. I could have easily assumed that my husband wouldn’t be available to leave work, or that it’d be easier to just do it myself (haven’t we all thought that??).

But instead, one phone call gave him the opportunity to be a hero to his kids. I can’t think of much else that fills his love bucket like receiving this kind of respect and admiration. 

How could you make your husband a hero this Father’s Day?

• Encourage him to take the kids the kids to the library and pick out some new bedtime stories to read together. Mom, stay home and get the popcorn ready.
• Invite him to participate in bedtime if he usually doesn’t, especially during prayer time.
• Plan a surprise for your kids and let dad announce it.
• Schedule some daddy-daughter or daddy-son dates for him and let him be the shining knight to his kids.
• Go out of your way to praise your children’s father in front of others…and do so often.
• Help your kids write gratitude letters to daddy this Father’s Day. Offer some prompts so they can better articulate how special their daddy is to each of them.