Honor Thy Father

Honor Thy Father

This is God's expectation of humanity (Eph. 6:2). Society, recognizing the value and worth of fathers, reminds us each year to honor our fathers on Father's Day.

Every family needs a father. Children who are forced to grow up without a father have a much harder time being successful in life. One of the great weaknesses of our contemporary society has to do with fathers.

There are those who abandon their families and leave their children to grow up without a father in the home.

There are those who, although they stay in the home, are irresponsible fathers who take no part in the training of their children.

There are those whose conduct and example are harmful rather than helpful to their children.

The easiest part of fathering is the conception of a child. The most challenging part is the 20 years it takes to raise them to maturity. This is especially true in our worldly, decadent society. Movies, television and the entertainment industry work against successful parenting. Our public schools are of little help or encouragement. Sometimes they are detrimental. Father's need the help the Lord provides through his church and his Word to guide them in being good parents.

Through the ages, wise men have written much about the mutual duties of Fathers and their children.

Paul wrote, "And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord" (Eph. 6:4).

"Elihu Burritt wrote, "Be ever gentle with the children God has given you. Watch over them constantly; reprove them earnestly, but not in anger."

"Would you have your son obedient to you when past childhood? Be sure then to ...imprint it in his infancy;...so shall you have him...obedient...whilst he is a child, and your affectionate friend when he is a man..." (John Locke).

We have been so anxious to give our children what we didn't have that we have neglected to give them what we did have" (Unknown)

"It is sobering when a father sees in his son himself, his mannerism, his ways, his words. It is a great moment in life when a father sees a son grow taller than he, or reach farther..." ( R. C. Evans).

"What a father says to his children is not heard by the world, but it will be heard by posterity" (J. P. Richter).

"The success of children is the success of parents.,. The sorrow children is the sorrow parents." ( R. C. Evans).

A Father's Prayer: "Dear Lord, make me a better parent. Teach me to understand my children, to listen patiently to what they have to say and to answer all their questions kindly. Keep me from interrupting them, talking back to them, and contradicting them. Make me as courteous to them as I would have them to be to me" (Gary Myers).

To children Solomon said, "Hearken unto they father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old."

Excerpts from a letter to a deceased dad. Dear Dad "It's only now, after passing through the long hard school years, only now, when my own hair is gray, that I understand how you felt. I must have been a ...trial to you....I wish you were here now, across the table from me, just for an hour, so that I could tell you how there's no wall any more; I understand you now, Dad, and , how I love you, and wish I could go back and be your boy again...I know that among the richest, most priceless things on earth, and the thing least understood, is that mighty love and tenderness and craving to help, which a father feels toward his boy. For I have a boy of my own..." (Dr. Frank Crane)

"The Crown of the home is Godliness. The Beauty of the home is Order. The Glory of the home is Hospitality. The Blessing of the home is Contentment" (Adapted from an old inscription). I would add, the Head of an ideal home is a good Father. "A happy family is but an earlier heaven" (John Bowring).

If you were blessed with a wonderful Father, give thanks to God and never forget him. If not, then resolve that you will be the kind of parent your children and grandchildren will be proud of. Love and discipline are not mutually exclusive. They are like the two blades of scissors. Honor thy Father!

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