A TRIBUTE TO DAD’S
Psalm 127:3(NKJV)
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.
5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Proverbs 17:6 (NKJV)
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NKJV)
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Just as God loved us so much that He sacrificed His Son, and His Son willingly sacrificed His life for us, so our dads express their love for us through sacrifice each and every day.
Just as God protects us and provides for us, dads are to do the same for their children. Our dads should be to us the earthly example of our heavenly Father. When our earthly fathers are the fathers that God desires for them to be, their examples of fatherhood makes it easier for their children to understand God’s role as their heavenly Father and what their relationship to Him should be like.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where many dads are missing in action, also, unfortunately, we live in a society that does not respect and honor our good dads as frequently as we should. As we approach Father’s Day, I would like to encourage you to joyfully and gratefully honor the men in your life.
Whether it is your father, your husband, brother, or nephew, if they are dads who are present and active in their children’s lives they should be honored.
I cannot imagine the load that is appointed to them as the providers, protectors, and the spiritual leaders of our families. This is an awesome responsibility that comes with a lot of weight. Men many times do not have nearly the support system that we as women have.
I realize that there are many men who have walked off and left the responsibility of raising and providing for their children to their wives, who are then left behind to endure a life of struggle. That is not who I am talking about. I am talking about the men like my wonderful dad and my husband and brothers who have been present and active, not perfect, but present and active, who have sacrificed and given every day of their lives willingly to make sure that meals were on the table. That shoes were on everyone’s feet, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads.
Men who did not tell their children where the church was or drop them off at the church door but who led them by example and got up on Sunday mornings, and led their families to church.
Men who have done without many things they would like to have had so that their families could have what they needed.
Men who taught their sons how to respect women by the example they saw in the way they loved and respected their moms.
Men who no matter how tired they were, mustered up the energy at the end of a workday to play with their children or to go to one more ball game or to teach them to ride a bike for the first time.
Men who led prayer over each meal and taught their children to thank God for providing it and to thank mom for preparing it.
Men who help those outsides of their own families that were in need, whether cutting the grass for someone who was unable to do so for themselves or sharing words of wisdom with a young man who had no clue of how to be a great husband and father.
Dads who were watchful of the words they expressed before their children with full understanding that their words could build up or tear down.
I also want to celebrate the single fathers who by no choice of their own find themselves with the daunting task of raising their children alone and they are brave enough and love them enough to do so, trusting God each day for wisdom and guidance. Stay strong brothers, stay strong. God will see you through.
Dads where would we be without you?
God knew you would be vital to the family, so much so that he made you head of the family. I respect your role and I honor you for your dedication to being obedient to the call of providing for, protecting and leading your families to God’s Pearly Gates.
Many men will never allow anyone to see them in a vulnerable state. I am convinced that we may never know how many tears they have secretly shed as they went before our heavenly Father for wisdom and guidance to know how to lead and direct their families in those dark and stressful moments that we are all faced with at some point.
Dads, my prayer is that you will always cherish the gift God has given you, in that of being responsible for and taking care of your family, and that you will hear him say “well done my good and faithful servant” someday. However, until then know this, that we need your presence in our lives and the lives of our children.
Thank you for your life of love and sacrifice and may you always look to our heavenly Father for
STRENGTH, WISDOM, COURAGE, AND GUIDANCE.
Happy Father’s Day!
Luke 11:11-13 (NKJV)
11 If a son asks for bread[a] from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
