Having lost my earthly father many years ago, I miss the times and talks that we had in my younger days and the wisdom that he always had. It is my sincere hope, desire, and wish that my children will one day say the same thing about me. Robert Brault once stated, “The young do not follow our preachings – they follow us.”
Being a father has enlightened me as to what my parents went through. My father always taught me that the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little “extra.” No truer words can be taught to the generation of today and, again, I hope this has become something my children will heed and understand as they raise their children and teach the ones around them.
The inspired words of our Heavenly Father and Holy God speaks to all men as they have taken on the responsibility of parenting in Proverbs 20:7, “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.” My dad taught me the value of listening and dealing with others and being fair to all concerned. This is a lesson that should be taught to all young people of today.
In today’s society Satan has gotten a strong foothold on many of our people. They do not look to God for guidance anymore and have allowed the sins of prestige and greed guide their lives. Many earthly fathers have gotten away from God’s Word and are reading and believing in what man has to say and looking for “cheap wisdom.” God’s Word and teaching have been thrown out the window or put on the back burner just as it was in the days of the Minor Prophets. Idol worship has become the norm, as it did with the Israelites, and we as Christian men are justifying all of this because we continue to visualize ourselves as righteous before the Lord.
Many of our young men are fathering children out of wedlock and not accepting their responsibility of marriage and fatherhood. These young mothers are crying out for help because these men do not accept their roles as a parent. Their lack of integrity is festered with their immoral attitudes and self-seeking desires of the flesh. Most of these attitudes come from the lack of a strong earthly father and failed ways of teaching them about life and the responsibility it requires.
I am so thankful for my dad and the role he played in my life. Even though he may not have gone to church every Sunday, mostly because of work, he insured that his children had the opportunity of being in the Lord’s house. He loved his children unconditionally and his hand of discipline was strong. He taught all his children right from wrong and the values of Christian living.
It is my hope that on this Father’s Day that you have the opportunity of being with your earthly father and thanking him for the love and teachings he has given you. There will be so many fatherless children this year because of a deadbeat dad or the Lord calling a father home. Our youth without fathers are crying out to us to become involved with them and teach them about true love and integrity. It is my belief that if we, as fathers, stay involved with our children and teach them the value of life, teach them integrity, show them love, our society will be strong in the future and once again trust in the Lord God to be our strength and wisdom.
I miss my dad and there will never be a Father’s Day that I do not think about him. My four children have made me an extremely proud father by the lives they lead and knowing that each one of them knows Jesus personally. This Father’s Day go and see your dad and hug him for what he has taught you. If you cannot physically see him, call him, and tell him you love him because when the Lord calls him home, your opportunities to do this will be gone.
