By Noraini Abd Samad, Dr Nurizah Md Ngadiran and Hazila Kadir@Shahar

The world may evolve and go through a myriad of changes but love will always be the centre of our lives. Humans of the modern world show this by assigning dates to celebrate love.

The singles may have Single’s Day to show their love to self, couples celebrate Valentine, and there are also special days for us to show our love to our parents. Father’s Day is a significant occasion where we honour the love, sacrifices, and guidance of fathers.

The beauty of today’s digital age is that time and distance no longer limit how we show love towards our fathers – what matters most is the sincerity behind the gesture.

If dad is still around

To still have your father with you is a blessing not many can enjoy. However, some of us might have responsibilities that take us away from our fathers. This is where technology helps. A video call can instantly span continents. Our presence, albeit digitally, means the world to our fathers. Use any communication application that you and your father are comfortable with to exchange tales and laugh together.

Additionally, social media offers a platform for you to openly express your gratitude towards your father. A sincere post that includes a video message or a flashback photo might seem simple but it is an homage that will be appreciated by your anchor in life, your father.

You can also take it up a notch by surprising him with a personalised digital gift in the form of a collage of his best photos, a playlist of his favourite tunes, or even a short film composed of family footage accompanied by messages from everyone in the family.

If your father is one of those tech-savvy dads, you might want to splurge and give him a device or subscription service that suits his hobbies. If he is into fitness, a tracker would definitely put a smile on his face. He might even brag about it to his brisk-walk buddies at your local park which is definitely a way for him to show how much he felt loved by you.

Ultimately, nothing compares to quality time away from screens. Visit him, have a meal with him, or just sit and listen if you can. A sincere "thank you" from the bottom of your heart is always appreciated.

Honouring fathers we’ve lost

Everyone of us will one day experience the loss of our parents. To those who have lost their father, Father’s Day can be a gloomy one. However, it does not necessarily have to be so.

In the words of Esther Perel, love is a verb, so continue to show love towards the fathers we have lost on this Father’s Day. Technology can help you a lot with it. You can set up a memorial website, make a tribute film, or an online photo album so that those who are touched by your father can contribute pictures, stories, and memories. By doing so, you not only put action to your love, you also preserve the legacy of your one and only loved father.

If typing is your technology master skill, you can dedicate a post for your father. Pour your longing and love for him in words that only you could say. You can put the post up on any of your social media in his honour. Perhaps, it could inspire someone to express their adoration to their father when they read it.

You could also use internet platforms to donate to a cause he supported, light a virtual candle, or post a phrase he appreciated. These deeds not only honour our father but it also can help us cope with the void he left us with.

We have to admit that not all of us are comfortable sharing our feelings online. Totally understandable. For those who prefer private celebration, technology can help reminisce the good times you have with your father with digital photo albums and memory videos. You can create a space of remembrance in your house by cooking a meal he enjoyed, putting on his favourite music, and go through those albums and videos.

Not having your father with you on Father’s Day can be hard and our hearts go out to you. Trust that though his physical self is no longer with you, his love will always be there.

The heart matters most

Father’s Day is a time to celebrate love, appreciation, and the lasting memory of your father whether he is with you or lives in your heart. We have countless tools to help us to express our feelings in this digital era, but the genuine intention behind each gesture is the most important. Fathers, both present and departed, deserve to be honoured with love in any circumstances.

-- BERNAMA

Noraini Abd Samad is with Institut Aminuddin Baki; Dr Nurizah Md Ngadiran with the Academy of Language Studies, Universiti Teknologi MARA and Hazila Kadir@Shahar with the Centre for Language Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia.