Happy Father’s Day

A little history lesson…

Father’s Day started in 1909 when a young lady by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd, who was at church on Mother’s Day, and while she listened to the sermon and she thought about how they were celebrating the life of her Mother.

According to the story, Sonora’s mother had died in childbirth, and her father, Henry Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran and farmer, was raising Sonora and her five siblings as a single parent. Sonora wanted to find a way to celebrate and thank her Dad with a day that was as special to Mother’s, to honor her Father and his sacrifices for their family.

It wasn’t until 1924, when U.S. President Calvin Coolidge officially urged Americans to celebrate a national Father’s Day. By 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a Presidential Proclamation, designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. President Richard M. Nixon signed a 1972 bill, making the holiday legal, official and permanent.

Since it was Sonora Smart Dodd who came up with the idea in church, one could question (as I have), which scripture passages inspired her. Since she has long passed (died in 1978), one can only wonder. I did some research and have compiled the Top 10 most quoted Bible Verses, when referring to Fathers in the Bible.

While all of these verses really pertain to The Father, Our God, I would ask you to listen and reflect on how they may remind you of your own Father as I have added my own little memories of my Dad.

A Father’s Integrity

1 Chronicles 29:17 – ”I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you.”

My Father was always an honest man. Sometimes that would work to his favor but, sometimes… not so much. He had always said, “If you’re honest and sincere, you’ll have nothing to hide from anyone and no regrets in life.” It’s a trait that has been carried down from my Dad to me and works in just the same fashion.

As it states above, “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.” Sometimes the challenges we face are given to us by God as a test of our honesty and integrity. We need to understand this, recognize it and rise-up to please our Father in Heaven.

Proverbs 20:7 – “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.”

We take after our Fathers as we carry on their traits and continue their legacy.

A Father’s Courage

Joshua 1:9 – ”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Just as God has taught our Fathers, this is another trait handed down by them. My Dad always taught me to be brave, be afraid of no one, for as long as your heart is true and your intentions are sincere, I have nothing to fear. He taught me this as did our Lord to all His disciples.

A Father’s Compassion

Psalm 103:13 – ”As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”

I’m not sure about you but I always had a fear of my Dad. I always knew, if I did something wrong, I was going to hear it from my Father… and honestly, there was nothing wrong with that for as long as I did the right things my Dad was always there beside me showing me His support and compassion.

Our God, as it states above, has the same compassion for all of us. Do the right thing, fear the Lord when we do wrong and feel His compassion for us in everything we do in His will.

A Father’s Wisdom

Proverbs 4:11-13 – ”I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

God has infinite wisdom and reveals it throughout the Bible. Our Fathers have always tried to teach us whether we were willing to learn or not. We were raised to learn and understand so our lives and the lives of our children would always be safe.

My Dad had great wisdom as he had worshipped the Lord for as long as I could remember… obviously, even before I was born. Whatever struggles I would face, Dad always had the answers and, I can assure you, our God most definitely does… always pray and ask Him for His guidance.

…and also in Proverbs

Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

A Fathers Imparting Truth

James 1:5 – ”If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

Just as we ask God for his guidance, we’ve all asked questions of our Fathers while we were growing up and some of us still do today. Again, just as God would, our Fathers try and teach us without criticism, without judgement and offer their lessons generously.

A Father’s Love

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 – ”Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”

What is this saying? All that we have learned… all that we have experienced will one day pass. But Love, as I’m sure many you can attest to that have lost someone you Loved, will never die especially the Love of our Father.

A Father’s Fruits

Galatians 5:22-23 – ”But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

What is the fruit of our Fathers? Well, quite simply, its all that I’ve just mentioned; Integrity, Courage, Compassion, Wisdom, Truth and Love… and, as the Bible tells us… there are no laws against any of these traits and they can never be taken away from us!

A Father’s Legacy

Proverbs 23:24 – ”The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”

As I’ve mentioned, most of our traits, as men, are handed down to us from our Fathers. God commands us to teach our children well as to carry on the legacy of our Fathers.

A Father’s Father (Our God)

Psalm 68:5-6 – ”A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

Our God is truly a Father’s Father as he is the Almighty Father! All that seek his infinite wisdom, it is given and we are taken in and nurtured in His hands. Also, as you hear in this verse, never rebel against our Fathers. The “sun-scorched land” represents a difficult life indeed.

A Poem for 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.

 Prayers this week for…

  • My friend Sandy’s Brother Richard suffering from cancer
  • My friend Bill’s friends – Dawn, who just passed from a massive stroke whose daughter Amber (13) is now alone…. Hoping Shawn (Dawn’s good friend) gets custody
  • Brother Jerry who continues his battle with cancer
  • All others battling disease
  • Our Soldiers in foreign countries

Love and Honor your Fathers today… tell them if they’re still here and simply let them know if they’re not.

Go with God, be good to one another, humble and Kind… God Bless!