Father’s Day

Father’s Day thoughts . . .

This coming Sunday, June 18th is Father’s Day. As much as Mother’s Day is a big time celebration, Father’s Day should be of equal footing in observing both special days. We can’t be born without the other, at least I am thinking in terms of the traditional way. Don’t get me wrong now a days it’s easy to get a sperm donor for a woman if she wants to have a child. The role of a father in bringing up a child in this world is just as important with that of a mother. If you noticed the 5th tenet of God’s Ten Commandments says:

“Honor your father and your mother.” . . .

I don’t profess to be very religious but at one time I read enough what
the bible has to say about Father. Read on . . .

Proverbs (ch. X, v. 1)
A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of
his mother.

Proverbs (ch. XXII, v. 6)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Matthew 7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father who is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him?

The question has been posed: What Makes A Dad?

“God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it … Dad”

Author is unknown

I was once told:

“Any man can be a Father,
but it takes a special person
to be called Dad. “

Isn’t time to call and tell your father:

“You are a special Dad,
and is enshrined forever in my heart!”

Nothing can be more nostalgic than to hear the song of Luther Vandross
“Song to my Father.”

Dance With My Father

Lastly, here is one prayer we can all offer to all “Fathers!”

Holy Father,

You are the one who knows how absolutely special fathers are.
You made them that way.

How else can a man work so hard, give so much, and love unconditionally,
without your strength?

So first, Lord, thank You for fathers, for daddies.
For big, strong men with tender hearts,
with hands that are calloused and rough,
yet so soft and gentle when hearts need mending.

Lord, help children to delight this day in being with their dads,
even if it must be only by phone.

May the precious memories flow, and bring laughter,
and new love and appreciation.

Lord, please take care of our dads.
Though they are brave and protective,
they must also be frightened sometimes,
when money runs low, when we need things, when we’re hurt or sick.

Lord, when their hearts break because they can’t do it all,
please help us to let them know how much we love them.

And how much You love them.

Lord, forgive the men who know they are not good fathers,
and help them to know when and if they can make things better,
with Your help.

And Oh, Lord, for those Dads who keep trying and keep loving after
messing up so many times, help their children to love them even more in
return.

Lord, for that Dad who has lost a child, please let him know You are
there,
right beside him, for nothing else can heal a heart so torn.

For the father who is parenting alone, strengthen him with your love.
For those whose father is already with You,
Give him a hug, Lord, and tell him it’s from his children.
And you, too, Lord.
Happy Father’s Day!

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Here is one simpler prayer for all “Fathers.”

God our Father,
in your wisdom and love you made all things.
Bless those fathers, who have taken upon themselves
the responsibility of parenting.
Bless those who have lost a spouse to death … or divorce
who are parenting their children alone.
Strengthen them by your love that they may become
the loving, caring persons they are meant to be.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.
Amen!

Happy Father’s Day!