I know that not everyone had the same experience growing up that I did. I had a loving father who was away a great deal of the time but when he was home, he made sure to share life with us. He was tired and had so much to catch up on, but he also carved out time to take us hunting, fishing and even bowling.
That’s one of the things I appreciate so much about Dave also. When the kids were little, he worked hundred-hour weeks. When you work in the agricultural industry that’s what you do. But he always made sure he was home for a few hours each evening before the kids went to bed, there was time to read them a story or get down on the floor to play.
This weekend is Father’s Day and the men in our lives deserve to be celebrated.
I have a hard time with sitcoms, movies and even the talk shows making fathers out to be incompetent buffoons or weak, unintelligent members of society.
We should be grateful for the men in our families who sacrificed so that we could have a better way of life than they did. Fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, uncles and even coaches and teachers who showed us a father’s love – tender hearted, kind, forgiving, filled with compassion!
Every good and perfect gift comes from our heavenly Father. Now our earthly fathers may not be perfect but they are “good gifts”.
My heavenly Father is the one who gave my earthly father those characteristics. He was strict – wanting me to behave a certain way – teaching me right from wrong and his heart was always filled with compassion for me.
We don’t always see what our father, heavenly or earthly, is doing while we are in the midst of a situation, but we know our father and we know his motives and intentions are based on his love for us and we can trust him.
” Children, you belong to the Lord, and you do the right thing when you obey your parents. The first commandment with a promise says, 2 “Obey your father and your mother, 3 and you will have a long and happy life.” Ephesians 6:1-3 CEV
Even when we manage to get “a far off” he’s there waiting for us to come home. He watches and waits; He doesn’t come to “Drag” us back but when we return, He rejoices. I guess the best gift we could give either our earthly or our heavenly father is to come home today and let him shower us with his love.
22 “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. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.” Luke 15:18-24 NIV
Let’s celebrate those men who have been loving fathers or the ones who have filled that role when a father was absent. They are men who deserve celebration!