Father’s Day 2018

Welcome to Father’s Day 2018! Today, we honor not only our Fathers, but our Father’s Father and all that went before them. We have been instructed to honor our Father and Mother since the days of the Old Testament.

Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”

Proverbs 17:6 – “Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.”

I’d like to take a little time this morning to speak just a bit about my Dad and what he meant to me. Afterwards, I’d like to ask anyone here if they would like to speak briefly about their Father as well.

Our Fathers Wisdom

I don’t know about you, but I learned so much from my Dad as I was growing up and all his lessons are instilled in me today.

As I researched my Bible for its lessons on Fathers, I came across a lot of scripture in Proverbs. As I thought about that, it came to me… of course… these are the Proverbs of Solomon, Son of David and known for his infinite wisdom.

While I felt so much love from my Mother, it always seemed as though my Father was the one with all the answers. He always knew what to do; what to say; and exactly the right time and place to do so.

Our Fathers, in my eyes, were our first teachers… as it is told to us in…

Proverbs 22:6 – “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

While my Mom was the more “religious” one, it always seemed to be my Dad who would lecture me on how I should follow the Ten Commandments and lessons from the Bible.

As he grew older, I watched him intently as he became closer and closer to God, Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit.

After I would sit with him and watch his evangelical shows, he always would give me a lesson or two on why I should believe in The Word and have faith in God.

Once again, I am reminded in the Bible, how are Fathers were commanded to pass God’s law down to us.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 – “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

Perhaps, this little story will reflect on how much our Father’s lessons mean to us in life.

Through a Father’s Eyes

Jonathan’s mother died when he was very young and his father brought him up. Both of them shared a very special relationship. Jonathan loved to play football and his father made sure that he was always there to cheer his son at every match, even if Jonathan wasn’t a part of the playing team.

Jonathan being small sized, wasn’t allowed to play in the main team. Nevertheless, he continued with his practice with full determination. Everyone thought that Jonathan would never be able to make it into the team, though somehow, his determination carried him through. The coach seeing his diligence and dedication decided to keep him on the roster.

One day during practice, the coach met him with a telegram. Jonathan was shocked to read the message contained in it. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, “My father died this morning. Will it be all right if I miss practice today?” The coach gently put his arm around his shoulder and said, “Take the rest of the week off, son, and don’t even plan to come to the game on Saturday.”

On the day of the game, Jonathan’s college team was losing badly to the rival team. The coach and the players had all lost hope when they saw Jonathan coming towards them. Jonathan ran up to the coach and pleaded him to allow him to play this match. At first, the coach wouldn’t allow him to play. However, after a lot of persuasion, the coach gave in. No sooner Jonathan joined the team in the field, their scores started to improve before both the teams were on a tie.

However, the real cheer came during the crucial closing seconds when he intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown. His team members were ecstatic. The crowd came running towards him to celebrate the win.

After the match, the coach went up to Jonathan, who was seated alone in the corner of the locker room and asked, “Kid, I can’t believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?” He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, “Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?” The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!”

Our Father, The Provider

Dad was not an “educated man,” per se, but I will always remember how hard he worked. So many hours and so many days a week in order to provide for us, his family.

1 Timothy 5:8 – “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Just as God provides to us, my Dad tried his very best to give us all that we needed. Sure, at times, we would get the things we wanted, but most assuredly, he would see that we had what we needed.

A Father’s Love and Patience

I don’t know about you but, when I was a child, I gave my Dad a ton of grief. I was a handful, to say the least, but my Father always seemed to find the patience to deal with my arrogant behavior.

Psalm 103:13 – “Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”

Another story… this one shows the compassion, love and patience of a Father.

The Crow

An 80-year-old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45-year old highly educated son.

Suddenly a crow perched on their window.

The Father asked his Son, “What is this?”

The Son replied, “It is a crow”.

After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, “What is this?”

The Son said “Father, I have just now told you “It’s a crow”.

After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,

What is this?”

At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son’s tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. “It’s a crow, a crow, a crow”.

A little after, the Father again asked his Son the 4th time, “What is this?”

This time the Son shouted at his Father, “Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times ‘IT IS A CROW’.

Are you not able to understand this?”

A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary:

“Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time he asked me the same question again and again for 23 times.

I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child”.

While the little child asked him 23 times “What is this”, the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

Our Fathers, Never Give Up

Despite all the “bad” things I would do, my Dad never seemed to give up on me. Sure, he may have turned his back from time-to-time to let me fall all over myself (another lesson), but he never gave up.

The Parable of the Lost Son – Luke 15:11-32

“There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.  So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

They never give up!

In Conclusion

Honor your Fathers today. Honor your Father’s Father as well and all that have gone before them. If you’re fortunate enough to still have them with you, hold them; kiss them; let them know how much you care.

If your Dad has gone home, pay him tribute today. Look up to Heaven, give thanks for the Dad that God provided you and, still… tell him you love him; miss him; and will carry on his lessons until you see him again.

Please allow me, in closing, to share this poem I had written for my Dad on the day he passed.

My Dad

I remember a man as large as life,
with hands as tough as leather.
A gentle man whose heart was pure,
but seasoned, by the weather.

He cradled me when I was young,
and dried my tears of sorrow.
He taught me how to live my life,
and never fear tomorrow.

I’d follow him where he would go,
as I would take his finger.
The scent of him still stays with me,
and will forever linger.

He showed me things I’d never known,
and always had a lesson.
I’d learn from him to be a man,
and curb my bold aggression.

He gave me tender when in pain,
and strictness when I needed.
He gave me space but reeled me in,
when bounds I had exceeded.

He had gone home some time ago,
to stand beside our Savior.
But I still know so deep within,
that I’m still in his favor.

My Love for him will never die,
to try would be a bother.
As for this man my heart still aches,
as I know him, my Father.

I Love you Dad and always will,
for in my heart, I hold you still.

Go with God; be good to one another; always stay humble; always be kind… God Bless!