A Father’s Day Message

I originally published this post in 2012. Re-published it in 2013. During this time, some fathers have been added, and some have passed away. Happy Father’s Day in 2014!


A Writer/Naturalist I’ve greatly admired since 1989, Rick Bass, loves his daughters dearly. In his 2009 book, The Wild Marsh (Four Seasons at Home in Montana) (Wild Marsh) , he ponders the fast and relentless pace of childhood as he watches his children grow.

In the “July” chapter, Bass writes:

“I know I’m doing what I can to slow it down. Reading to them in the evenings, cooking with them, taking them on hikes, and swimming in the mountain lakes.

“Any activity I do with them could be done faster and more efficiently, but only recently have I come to understand that the slower and more inefficiently we do things, the greater is my gain, our gain; the less quickly that galloping stretch of time passes…

“If I’ll only watch and listen, they’ll show me — for a while — how to slow time down: instructing me in a way that I could never otherwise learn from the caring counsel of my friends, and their experiences.”


If you are blessed with children, and they are a blessing, I hope you are enjoying them as they are growing through their years; growing through your years.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve become very verbal when I see Fathers interacting with their children, in positive, caring, and fun ways. Especially when they are outdoors: in the park, at the playground, messing around in the creek, going fishing, watching insects up close, or spotting planets in the night sky. They may be working in the garden with their kids, raking leaves, building a snowman, taking a hike, exploring the woods, or simply balancing on an elevated log:

Whether I’m running, walking, biking, or even driving by, I’ll often stop, and announce across the distance, to guys I don’t even know, and will never see again:

“WAY TO BE A GOOD DAD!”

I know this great Father. This is Ross Peterson with five of their six adopted children. His good wife Chanda, Home Schools these fine kids. We’ve known Ross since birth. He was our son Aaron’s best friend as they were growing from boyhood into manhood.

I’ve been doing this small, but important, act of recognition since 1994. Now, I would like all of you to join me in this special mission. Six, simple, one-syllable words to say:

“WAY TO BE A GOOD DAD !”

Give the compliment. Spend it, don’t save it. Give it all you’ve got. Someday it may come back to you.


To the upcoming list of Good Fathers I know, some of the older guys will remember the simple phrase from a “Sweet Baby James” (Taylor) song:

“Shower the people you love with love,
 Show them the way that you feel”

And bring them to church with you, so the entire family can get to know Our Father, who art in Heaven…

Some Good Fathers I Know

Rick Adamy
Rick Amann
Roger Anderson
Matt Bailey
Jason Balgavy
Lazarus Banks
Andy Biermacher
Tom Blackford Sr.  *
Tom Blackford Jr.
Matt Block
Tom Brege
John Brillhart  *
Matt Burton
Chad Carlisle
Dirk Casmier
Jesse Causer
Charles Clark
Mike Clark
Joe Costello
Don Dahlquist
Paul Damon
Dave Dessellier
Alex DeYonker
Peter Draugalis Sr. *
Peter Draugalis Jr. *
Tim Duitsman
Dale Dykema
Kevin Ecclesine
Bud Elve
Dick Farrer
Jerry Field
Steve Foote
Bob Gansler
Santiago Garcia
Bill Geldersma
Gil Girtz
Paul Gordon
Dennis Gray
Lee Grogg
Gary Harmon
William Havenga *
Bill Havenga
Jim Havenga
John Havenga
Bill Henkel
Chis Henkel
Jim Henkel
Kelly Henkel
Pat Henkel
Richard Henkel *
Ryan Henkel
Terry Henkel
Tom Henkel
Richard Heroux *
Gord Herrema
Greg Hewitt
Andrew Hoekstra
Ken Hyink
Andy Jackson
Jason Janoski
Al Jongekrijg
Scott Jongekrijg
Joe Junewick
Chris Karlson
Jeff Karlson
Jerry Karlson
Matt Karlson
Nate Karlson
Dick Kearns
Steve Kelly
Ernie Kenneway
Jason Kinzler *
Rick Kircheis
Harry Konyenbelt
Jeff Kowatch
Tony Kubat
Dale Lamps
Mike Lannan
Jim Long
John Longcore
Dave Lenox
Scott Lenox
Bob Mack
Scott McDaid
Bob McElliott
Joe McGrath
Bob McIntyre *
Don Melvin
Scott Mince
Steve Mueller
Mike Murphy
Jason Nielsen
Chris Norman
Jeff Odem
Russ Olivier
Jessy Ouzts
Lou Palmerlee *
Joe Partin
Kirk Partin
Wayne Partin
Joel Peterson
Marc Peterson
Merle Peterson
Ross Peterson
Tom Rademacher
Dave Ramsey
Jay Reed
Jon Rick
Carlos H. Rodriguez
Gary Roode
Curtis Rowe
Peter Rowe
Bob Salik *
John Shelton
Bob Siegel
Joel Siemens
Bill Sleeman
Wilton Smith
Larry Snyder
Jim Sowle
Chuck Spliedt
Denny Stelzer
Joe Stojak
Jim Stone
Lee Strassburger
Dan Takens
Jim Taylor Sr. *
Jim Taylor Jr.
Steve Tebeau
Manny Tendero
John Thomas
Owen Thompson
Bill Trowbridge
Greg Uhlenbrock
Hank Uhlenbrock *
Dan Villalobos
Tom Vincent
Max Weighmink
Joe Wilusz
Terry Winkle
Wayne Witt


* Deceased

My Father: Richard John Havenga  (1923-2006)  I Love you Dad.


My only Son: Aaron Richard Havenga  (1975-1994) I Love you Aaron. I miss you Buddy.

Aaron would have been an excellent Father, but his Heavenly Father called him home early.

So, can you really slow down the passage of time? No.  But there are ways to enjoy the passing of time.

Think: There may not be a next time.

Live each day as if life is a blessing.

Take time.

Make time.

This time.

Now, my friends, here is the best daughter this world has created, and I thank God that she is my daughter, a true blessing in my life… Sarah Havenga Partin. I love you Sarah.

Remember the six words.


You may also like to read: Journey of a Journal – April 2, 2013.

Photo Locations:

1. & 2. Home Woods.

3. & 4. St. Andrew’s Cathedral, (St. Andrew’s) Grand Rapids, Michigan

5. First Home

6. Lake Michigan – Pentwater State Park,  Michigan 

7. Platte River – Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore,  Michigan