• Read about fathers in Scripture. Select one or more of the following Scripture passages and read them together. Name traits you see in the father whose story you have read. Name both good and bad traits. Pray together, giving thanks for these fathers in scripture: Genesis 37:1-11; Joshua 24:14-15; Matthew 2:19-25.
  
• Think about men who have helped you grow in faith. These may be men in your biological family, in your church family, or in community. Write a note of thanks to one of these men who helped you grow in faith.
• Read together a children’s book about fathers. Here are a few that are good: Daddy All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas, Priscilla Burris (illustrator); Daddy Kisses by Anne Gutman; The Very Best Daddy of All by Marion Dane Bauer; Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney.
• Make a coupon book for your father or someone who is like a father for you. Include such coupons as these: “This coupon entitles you to me laughing at every joke you tell today”; “This coupon entitles you to an uninterrupted nap”; This coupon entitles you to your favorite dessert.”
• Trace your family’s history. Talk about grandparents and great-grandparents. If there are those in your family who have family names, talk about those who were named these names and why they have been passed on to those in another generation.
• Watch a movie about a father’s relationship with his children. Some to consider are: The Pursuit of Happiness; The Incredibles, Liar, Liar; Father of the Bride; Parenthood; The Lion King; Parent Trap; Mrs. Doubtfire; Up! (This is not a biological father-son relationship, but it shows a relationship between a child and an adult that grows and becomes a father-son relationship). Talk together about what you see in the movie that shows how fathers can care for those in their families in good ways.
• Pray for the fathers in your family. Ask everyone in the family to place their hands on the head of any fathers in the family and pray for God to bless each one.
• Learn about an organization in your community where men can volunteer to be a mentor to young people. One such organization is Big Brothers Big Sisters. Find a way you as a family can do something to help the organization you discover.
• Use the following prayer together on Father’s Day or another day in June:  Dear God: We are all in need of care. We thank you for the care you give to each of us, and we ask that (your father’s name) feel your care this day.  We are grateful for this man, who in so many ways helps us grow and cares for us.  We thank you for these things about him today: (family members list those things they love and their father).  Bless our family. Help us show more patience than impatience; more laughter than anger; more understanding than disregard; more care than indifference. Amen.                                                                                                          
  

 By:  MaryJane Pierce Norton
Spring Blessings, and Happy Father’s Day, to all our dads!
Lisa Beretz, 518-330-9277
 

   When we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May, it’s thanks to U.S. president Woodrow Wilson, who signed a measure in 1914 officially establishing the holiday. Since then, Mother’s Day gifts have been the focus of most Mother’s Day ideas, though Mother’s Day cards—and the Mother’s Day wishes written inside—remain top of mind too.  But as great as gifts for mom are, nothing beats spending time together. Maybe that looks like Mother’s Day brunch or Mother’s Day movies on repeat from morning till night.  No matter how you choose to honor the special moms, grandmas, and like-a-mom ladies in your life, know that it’s sure to be deeply appreciated.
 
Mother’s Day jokes:

• “After a long day, my favorite thing is to think of something for dinner that everyone will eat.” --No mother, ever
• I’d love to be a Pinterest mom, but it turns out I’m more of an Amazon Prime mom.
• Showering as a mom should be an Olympic sport: Everyone’s yelling your name, you have to beat the clock, and you rarely win a medal.
• I hate when I’m waiting for Mom to cook dinner—and then I remember I am Mom.
• I live in constant fear of having to share a “fun fact” about me.
• I would like to officially apologize to my toddler for opening her granola bar from the top instead of the bottom. I don’t know what I was thinking.
• Mom’s casseroles come in two sizes: not enough and enough to feed an army with leftovers.
• Have you heard the urban legend about what happens when you scream “Mom” three times in the shower? A nice lady appears with the towel you forgot.
• I love all my children equally. Except for the one who sleeps. I love that one more.
• Mom’s recipe for iced coffee: Have kids. Make coffee. Forget you made coffee. Put it in the microwave. Forget you put it in the microwave. Drink it cold.
• I love my kids. Not enough to flip the chicken nuggets halfway through cooking, but I love them.
• Mom sleep: the state of rest where your eyes are closed but you can still hear everything your kids are doing.

(Shared in part from Readers Digest)
Spring Blessings, and Happy Mother’s Day!
Lisa Beretz, 518-330-9277