The Gifts Fathers Keep
My poor dad. Every year he’d brave breakfast in bed (poorly cooked and delicately balanced) and the onslaught of Father’s Day novelty mugs, barbecue gadgets, ties (too many ties) and other “World’s Best Dad” merch, destined for - transparency people - a garage sale.
There is nothing wrong with a thoughtful gift, but I’ve noticed something over the years as a wife, mother and a daughter: the things fathers tend to treasure most are not the ones that require entering a four-digit PIN, or a tap.
One of my own most meaningful possessions is a portrait my youngest son painted of me when he was ten years old. The proportions are not perfect. The brush strokes are uneven. But every time I look at it, I’m reminded not only of who he was at that age, but how he saw me. Happy. Safe. Coiffed (!). Close. That little painting says more than any spa day ever could.
Long after the gadgets stop working and the mugs chip, the gifts we keep carefully are the ones that preserve connection. I think that’s because the best gifts are not really about the object itself, but really, they are about presence.
This Father’s Day, perhaps the most meaningful gifts are the ones that help fathers feel seen, appreciated, remembered, and deeply connected to the people they love. To that end I present the first ever BE MAGAZINE FATHER’S DAY GIFT GUIDE.
Gifts That Stay
A framed, handwritten questionnaire filled out by your children with prompts like:
“My dad is really good at…”
“I know my dad loves me because…”
“My favorite memory with Dad is…”
“The funniest thing about my dad is…”
A “memory jar” filled with handwritten notes, favorite moments, prayers, inside jokes, or reasons your children love their father.
The portrait. Use a legit primed artist canvas board, and decent paints. An easel is helpful (messy yes, memorable definitely). Ask them to draw Dad exactly as they see him right now: larger than life, slightly disproportionate, up close and personal. Don’t forget to sign and date.
A recorded video interview where children answer questions about their dad or ask him questions about his own childhood, faith, and life lessons.
A handwritten letter sharing what you admire most about him as a father.
A father-child experience day built around simple connection: coffee dates, fishing trips, bookstores, cooking together, or an evening walk.
The older I get, the more convinced I become that what stays with us longest is not extravagance, but intention.
Meaningful Gifts You Can Buy
Of course, thoughtful purchased gifts can still become part of meaningful family rituals. A few elevated ideas for the father figure in your life:
Luggage tags, handles or TSA approved bag straps that help dad instantly ID his bags at the carousel.
Wellness or recovery tools – you know how I feel about red-light therapy, how about an ice bath/infrared sauna excursion? A jar of manuka honey? Some olive oil high in polyphenols?
Golf balls with a personal stamp bc when he loses his ball or shanks that shot, nothing beats the humiliation like seeing “Best Dad By Par” stamped on a ball!
Espresso accessories for the dad who treasures his morning routine.
If your budget is higher, and your dad is getting older, my mom’s walker is unisex and lightweight/streamlined - perfect for narrow aisles. She gets asked all the time where she got it.
The best gifts are often the ones that quietly say:
“I know who you are.”
“I pay attention to what you love.”
“You matter here.” “I see you as the young boy you once were with your own hopes and dreams for your future.”
In a culture obsessed with productivity and performance, and content – whatever you do don’t forget the content - Father’s Day can become another pressure-filled Hallmark Holiday; moments of trying to get everything “just right” for 14 hours once a year. But scripture continually reminds us that relationships are built in ordinary moments. In Deuteronomy 6:6–7, families are encouraged to impress truth upon their children during everyday life: sitting at home, walking along the road, waking up, and lying down. Not perfection. Not performance. Presence.
The fathers who leave the deepest impact are rarely the ones who simply purchased the most things. More often, they are the fathers who were emotionally available, spiritually grounded, consistent, and nearby.
For Those Carrying Grief This Father’s Day
For some, Father’s Day carries grief, absence, estrangement, disappointment, or longing.
Dad’s no longer here. The relationship is fractured. Father’s Day feels complicated rather than celebratory.If that’s your story, I’d gently like to share that scripture reminds us that we are not left fatherless. Psalm 68:5 describes God as“A father to the fatherless.” And in John 14:18, Jesus says “I will not leave you as orphans.” Maybe this Father’s Day can become an opportunity for reflection. Consider taking a quiet moment to write down the qualities you value most about God as our Father:
His patience
His consistency
His protection
His forgiveness
His guidance
His presence
His unconditional love
On June 21st, I may write a personal letter to my Heavenly Father, expressing gratitude, grief, questions, and prayers. I know He’ll read it. Sometimes the greatest gift is one we can give ourselves; a reminder we are deeply known and deeply loved.
Whatever your third Sunday in June looks like this year, remind yourself that love has a way of preserving ordinary chaotic moments and quietly turning them sacred. And honestly, if all else fails, let the kids make the breakfast in bed. The bagels may be burnt, the OJ may spill, and there will be pieces of shell in the eggs, I guarantee. But he’ll remember it forever.
