Dad. His title may be short, but his influence is long and powerful. The most extraordinary thing about fathers is their hospitality.

Think of the classic scene in a delivery room: a soft, ruddy, squirming, and squawking baby is offered to a bleary-eyed, scrubbed, and dazed father’s arms. The baby has emerged from another body, another house, if you will, and at this moment goes from being hidden and mysterious to overwhelmingly present and needy.

While mother and baby have been one, connected through a profound lifeline, the father has been an observer to the miracle of this new life. Although he feels the genetic connection, he cannot share the physicality of the mother’s connection through pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Until this moment, the father has been all but an outsider to the baby’s tiny life.

And yet the father reaches for the baby without hesitation. He offers the safe, warm, loving embrace of his arms, which is the external parallel to the internal comfort of the mother’s womb. In doing so he opens the door to his heart, his home, and his life. He draws the baby into himself as if the baby were from his own body. That embrace later will translate to attending tea parties in too-small chairs, patient games of catch, fierce displays of protection, hollers of encouragement, bedtime stories with voices, and ice cream cones just because. What is all of this - the embrace, the reaching, offering, opening - if not profound hospitality, the generous welcoming of the mysterious outsider?

On Father’s Day we reflect on the fathers who perhaps welcomed us as babies but also to those who have been like fathers to us, offering us this kind of hospitality in our lives. Step-dads, teachers, rabbis, coaches, neighbors can all contribute to our experience of being fathered - that is, being offered hospitality.

Consider best gifts for dad as a way to thank a father from your life who has shown you this kind of hospitality. And let it be an inspiration to be a father, or like a father, to those in your own life.

Personalized/Engraved Wooden Watches

Send dad a note of your choice on the engraved wood watch from Urban Designer. These are the perfect personalized gifts to deliver your heartfelt messages of gratitude. In addition, your own handwriting note and photos can be engraved on those classic wooden watches. Urban Designer produces its wood watches with only RECLAIMED WOOD, great eco-friendly fathers day gift.

Men's Wood Bead Bracelet Elastic Stretch

This wood beaded bracelet features real (Reclaimed) wood with metal accents  which results in a stunning, one of a kind, lightweight men’s bracelet. Each wood bracelet is naturally alluring and hand crafted without the use of harsh chemicals.

Eco friendly Cork Wallet

A great gift for dad, natural cork wallet 5 slot card holder and 1 section for coins. Best eco friendly gift idea for father's day.

Handmade craft Leather Messenger Bag

For the lovely dad, A perfect companion for him - Naturally treated, strong but supple goat leather and sturdy canvas lining inside.

I’m sure there are more gift ideas you could add to this list that are meaningful to  your father. I encourage you to share and comment below, along with your additions to the Dads that surround you in hopes that we can all understand and appreciate the importance of the role that being a Father really is. Please go ahead and treat your awesome dad to any or all of the gifts above. Whatever you choose, we’re sure he’ll love it.