Dads have a way of making their love known—often through repetition. The same text messages. The same corny advice. The same words of encouragement, day after day. But as one woman beautifully demonstrated, those seemingly small gestures can leave an unforgettable mark.
Leah Doherty, a TV sports anchor based in Cleveland, Ohio, recently found a heartwarming way to show her dad how much his constant presence and encouragement have meant to her. For Christmas, Leah and her husband, Matt Mika, whom she describes as “wildly talented,” decided to take a classic gift—a framed photo—and give it a unique and emotional twist.
In a video shared on Leah’s Instagram, her dad, Joe Doherty, is seen unwrapping the rectangular package at his home in Texas on Christmas morning. At first, he thinks it’s just a beautiful photo of the two of them from her wedding day. But as he looks closer, his face transforms with realization.
The photo isn’t made of pixels; it’s made of words. Hundreds of black-and-white text blocks—text messages, to be specific—he had sent not just to Leah, but also to her two siblings, every morning throughout her college years.
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A text message tradition that turned into art
Speaking with Good Morning America, Leah explained that her dad texted her every single morning while she was in college. He’d always wish her a great day and end every message with the same signature phrase:
“Make good decisions, I love you!”
(It doesn’t get more “dad” than that, does it?)
Leah saved these texts over the years, and her husband, Matt, turned them into a mosaic. The final piece wasn’t just any image—it was a recreation of a special wedding photo showing Leah’s dad walking her down the aisle. Judging by his reaction, it hit him in all the feels.
Related: Exhausted, a young father calls for help on TikTok—and receives a beautiful gift
Viral love for dad
The video quickly went viral, amassing over 265,000 views. Thousands of commenters shared how the gift made them reflect on their own relationships with their dads. The comments section became a safe space for others to share their own memories of late fathers or similar dad-isms that made a lasting impact.
Leah’s video didn’t just spark heartfelt nostalgia—it also sparked demand. Leah and Matt’s heartwarming idea resonated so deeply that they’re now working on an Etsy shop—so families everywhere can create their own text-inspired keepsakes.
It’s easy to see why the video resonated so deeply. These small, repetitive acts—whether they’re texts, phone calls, or dad-isms shouted out the door—may seem mundane in the moment, but they’re often the threads that weave our strongest memories.
The dad-isms we can’t forget
Leah’s story is a reminder of the small phrases that shape how we feel loved and supported. One dad I know shouts “Learn something!” every morning as his kids board the school bus. Another sends them off with “Make good choices!” A friend’s dad used to holler “Be careful!” so often it became a family catchphrase everyone could lip-sync along to.
For me, it’s the simple and timeless “I love you.” No matter what, I want my son to hear that before heading out the door. Because one day, when I’m long gone, I hope those words will echo in his heart as a reminder of how much I cared.
These dad-isms, as corny or repetitive as they may seem, often turn into the foundation of how we feel loved and supported. For Leah Doherty, her dad’s texts were just that. And with her thoughtful mosaic, she ensured her dad knew just how much they meant to her while he’s still around to appreciate it.
After all, the most important messages are the ones we say—and show—every day.
Related: Family visits mom’s memorial bench—and is stunned by the gift waiting for them
