Father’s Day has become a bit complicated for me.  My own father is deceased.  My husband, who is an awesome father to our daughter, is also my romantic partner.  So while my appreciation for what he brings to our family runs deep, celebrating him as a father feels a bit weird too, kind of like kissing your cat on the lips.

Fortunately, I have another father in my life well worth acknowledging: my father-in-law, Dave Gresham.  I’m not sure why mothers and fathers in-law don’t get more appreciation, but if sit-coms are any indication, I seem to be really lucky. So I thought I’d share just a few of the wonderful qualities one can inherit through marriage.  You may recognize some of these qualities or others in your own father-in-law.  Take today to thank him!

• He cooks! When the in-laws come to visit, you know the eating is going to be good.  My mother-in-law makes delightful dinners and sinful desserts (not to mention creative snacks), but it’s the thought of my father-in-law’s apple grandes and french toast that make me wax nostalgic once they leave.
• He always has a good story! My father-in-law was an English teacher before he retired, so it shouldn’t surprise me he can spin a good yarn.  But he’s also a magnet for the odd and interesting bits of people’s life stories.
• He’s handy! My father-in-law lives on a boat, so he’s always fixing something!  Before that, he built two houses for the family.  Since I’m likely to break something even further in my efforts to repair it, this is a much appreciated quality.  What’s more, I don’t even have to ask for help.  His motto might be I find, I fix, it works.
• He inspires others to greatness! It’s no accident my father-in-law’s former students like to keep in touch.  Everyday Bright reader and acclaimed crime fiction writer Charlie Stella has dedicated nearly every one of his books to the inspiration my father-in-law provided as his creative writing teacher.  Another student went on to become a Pulitzer winner journalist.
• He has a huge heart! If you want to know the heart of a man, watch him with a child.  Here he is with his granddaughter when she was a baby.  No wonder his son is such a good father!

I feel very fortunate, but I know I’m not alone in appreciating my father-in-law.  Share your own stories.  What do you love about your father-in-law?

Flower photo courtesy of D Sharon Pruitt on Flickr