Fathers' Day, Christmas and the Ultimate Dad

This year, my Dad informed me that my family would not be celebrating Fathers' Day. Instead we would be celebrating "Half-Way to Christmas." While the reasoning behind my family's choice of celebration is likely different than my musings, I cannot think of a more appropriate alternative. Christmas commemorates the giving of our Heavenly Father's most perfect gift--a Savior. In this act, our Father showed His infinite love and mercy towards us, His spirit children. Our Father allowed his only son in the flesh to experience the trials of life, to be mocked and ridiculed, to suffer physically, mentally, and emotionally, and to ultimately endure a slow and painful death reserved for the basest criminals. It must have been agonizing for a Being who loves so perfectly to watch His Son, who had made all the right choices, go through so much on an earth so far from His presence. But God allowed it because He does love perfectly. He wants us to succeed and be happy. He wants us to live with Him. He wants us to have the tools to make it through all our trials. And because of Christ, we can. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and all He does for me. I am likewise grateful for the chance to celebrate Him more fully not only at Christmas, but also half-way this year. I can't think of a better Fathers' Day.