I don’t think I realized how much a gift it is to stay at home and raise your children until I had the chance to do it myself.  My mother stayed at home with my siblings and me while my father worked two jobs and served as a volunteer firefighter like his father before him.  She only returned to work after my youngest sister was enrolled in full-day Kindergarten, and she worked at our elementary school, ensuring that she was home with us after school, on weekends, during school vacations, and through the summer.  I knew I was lucky to have my mom at home with me, but I don’t think I really appreciated it until I got to do the same with my own children.  I also never realized how many sacrifices my father had made to make it happen.  And so, in honor of Father’s Day, I’d like to say, ‘Thank you.”

Thank you, Daddy, for working two jobs so that Mom could stay at home with us.

Thank you for volunteering as a firefighter all those years to show us the value of service without expecting anything in return.

Thank  you for all those family dinners you were present for, where you showed us the importance of coming together as a family regularly, even in the midst of chaos and long hours of work.

Thank you for every trip that you needed to miss to ensure that the bills got paid and that we had the money to make those very trips happen.

Thank you for taking a week off from work every summer to go on vacation with us.

Thank you for being my constant number one fan in the bleachers and along the sidelines.

Thank you for rearranging your work schedule to coach my high school softball team.

Thank you for every sacrifice that you made to give us the childhood that you believed we deserved.

I can never express my gratitude properly for everything you did for me.  I can never adequately thank you for the life that you’ve given me.  I can only show my gratitude by giving my children the same life and love that you gave me.

And so, Andrew…

Thank you for working two jobs so that I can stay at home with our children.

Thank you for the passion and dedication you show to your students, because you are teaching our children that there is joy to be found in work.

Thank you for all the family dinners you are present for, where John and Felicity learn that faith and family are of incomparable value.

Thank you for every trip that you need to miss to ensure that we have a roof over our heads, food on the table, and enough spending money to make those trips possible.

Thank you for taking time off from work every year for family visits and vacations.

Thank you for being our children’s constant support, their provider, and their protector.

Thank you for rearranging your work schedule so that I can have one-on-one time with our children from time to time.

Thank you for every sacrifice that you make to ensure that our children get the childhood that they deserve.

I cannot begin to express my gratitude for having the opportunity to care for our children, teaching them and loving them through every moment of every day that I get to spend with them.  You continue to make so many sacrifices to make that happen, and we cannot thank you enough for what you have done for us.  You really are a hero.

And so, to all those fathers who work for hours to allow your wives to stay at home with your children, thank you.  Thank you for your many sacrifices.  Thank you for bearing the burden of tirelessly working to give your children the opportunity to be raised by their mothers at home.  Thank you for the lessons that you teach your children, lessons about sacrifice, dedication, hard work, and love.  You might think that your sacrifices go unnoticed, but let this be proof: we see you.  We see you, and we thank you.  We see you, and we love you.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!