The countdown begins – Father's Day is less than a week away. You're welcome for the reminder. Before you scramble to buy all the sports gear and plan the bacon-flavored meals, stop and remember the purpose of why we set aside every third Sunday of June to appreciate dads. There's a reason why Mother's Day and Father's Day are two different holidays. Mothers and fathers have their own ways of parenting that are unique and particular to them; therefore, we have separate days dedicated to celebrating the special way each of them influences and cares for us.

Fun and games.

The way fathers and mothers play tend to be different. Their ways share the same principles, but their styles are distinctive. Both of my parents showed me the importance of imagination in play. While my mom put a tiara on her head and pretended to be a princess, my dad was the "scary monster" that chased me and my friends around the house. My mom and dad also let me experience the thrill of having fun. Dad would toss me high in the air, and Mom would spin quickly while I was safe in her arms. The precepts of play that our parents show us are the same, but the roughhouse style of fun that fathers tend to use taught us where the line between careful adventure and rowdy recklessness meet.

Life lessons in discipline.

I remember my dad kindly saying, "You have to play by the rules" after cheating in a not-so-sneaky way while playing Connect Four. Both my parents displayed goodness while raising me; however, I usually heard the lesson of fairness and justice more from my dad, while my mom focused more on sympathy and care and gentleness. This is not saying that mothers can't be examples of integrity or that fathers fail to be caring and helpful, but my dad definitely emphasized the importance of righteousness.

Taking the lead.

I think it's truly special to watch how fathers guide their families through strong leadership. This isn't to say that mothers can't make decisions for the family, but from what I've observed in healthy, godly families, the fathers tend to direct while the mothers tend to influence. It's a wonderful sight to observe how dads show their care for their families by guiding and making suggestions that they believe will lead their family in a good, worthy direction. They want the best for their wife and children, and they show that by making decisions that they trust are right.

Dads are special.

Not all fathers are alike. They have unique quirks and habits, and each of them has a personality all their own. Dads make mistakes, but hopefully you still love them for trying their best. Hopefully you have some father figure that helps you make decisions, teaches you life lessons and is someone that you can have fun with. The way fathers show their love to us is a special characteristic that sets them apart from the family. Be thankful for the influence that they have had on your life. Enjoy Father's Day by celebrating it with the influential "dads" of your life.