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Father's Day
by Fr. Al Jenkins
Proverbs 20:5
On Father's Day we honor fatherhood and especially the gentleman who are doing a fine job being quality fathers in their families. Our great respect goes to those who are great-grandfathers and grandfathers. We revere our older men and fathers. We pray for gentlemen who want to be fathers but for one reason or another, known only to God, have been unable with their spouses to have a child. We pray for parents who have lost their children due to accidents or sickness.
We also pray today for those considering adoption. Many children have no parents and cherish the idea of someone adopting them. We pray for the stepfathers whose Godliness and strength have brought new life to ladies and children, who otherwise would not receive the love of a good Christian man.
It is hard to describe a father without describing a man, because fathers are first boys who go through all sorts of spoken and unspoken rituals and wrenching spurts of mental, emotional, and physical growth to prove they 'have what it takes' to be a real man. Every culture and every century attempts to reshape manhood.
Proverbs 20:5 reads "the heart of a man is like deep water."
But, within every little boy and every man, there is a 'Godspace' that no culture or century can touch. Only God can turn a boy into a 'real' man.
I think most men are undomesticated and unruly 'at heart' and taming them 'too much' takes away from their manhood. Men need to dream big dreams. They need to explore, roam, build, and conquer. Men need battles to fight. Men need 'a lady to save, a damsel to rescue'.
Most men enjoy a life outdoors. Men need adventure. Men need to feel strong. Men need purpose. Men are fearful of going through life and not fulfilling their needs and hungers to be masculine. Men want to 'be' something, not 'appear to be' something. Men want to be 'warriors and knights' in a romantic sort of way.
Our culture even creates stories that reflect these needs in movies like Braveheart, Dances With Wolves, The Magnificent Seven, High Noon, Shane, Saving Private Ryan, Top Gun, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down — to name only a very few!
But, only God has a plan big enough for men. Only God has legions fighting against such foes as angels, dominions, powers and principalities. Men can fulfill all their needs in the sight of God as soldiers of Christ and still be good, loving, gentle husbands and fathers.
Fathers are also meant to be strong for their wives and heroes to their children. They are leaders who are respected and valiant for their families. They are 'men among men', devoted to God. They become 'grand' fathers ... men of strength and honor.
In the Bible God called Abraham into action when he was in his seventies. God needed his aged masculinity and strength. Abraham left everything to establish a nation of God's people. Abraham was obedient to God and he was highly successful.
Then there was Paul. God needed Paul's masculinity and strength. So, God went after Paul and got him. Paul, too, obeyed God and he was and still is the greatest missionary that has ever lived. The Bible is full of Bravehearts! Great victories!
Children and mothers want one thing from their daddies and husbands. They want to experience love. They want daddy-love! They want a strong gentleman. They're saying, "Don't just tell me you love me, put some flesh on it." Daddy-love means being present. Daddy-love means taking time to be with your child and their mother or stepmother. With a real man, not a thing gets in the way of taking care of mom and the babies. They are defended, cared for, and protected — at all costs, even with one's very life.
America's crisis is not terrorists, AIDS, equal rights, drugs, education, or medical care for the elderly. America's crisis is absent dads and absent dads are not 'real' men! Absent dads are dads too busy to play, to 'be' with their child. Absent dads are dads too busy to give their wives the love they need.
Daddies and granddads, listen to what God has to say:
- Ephesians 6:4 — "... fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath ..." This means dads are to maintain a positive encouraging attitude toward their child.
- James 1:5 — "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God ..." Real fathers, real men, turn to God for answers.
- Proverbs 22:6 — "Raise a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." Daddies, if you want your child to know God and God's ways, you need to lead the way. Real fathers lead!
- James 2:1 — "... as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism."
James 2:9 — "But, if you show favoritism, you sin ..."
God does not play favorites. His love is equal and a father's love for his children should do the same. If you show favoritism, it will eventually divide your household.
Grandmothers, mothers, children, and friends — what are you doing to help dads be the fathers and men God wants them to be? Are you assisting them or working against them? Are you supporting them in difficult stands they must take against the winds of evil that blow across their children's lives? Are you praying with them?
Daddies, be praying men. Love God! Hate and resist evil. Love and care for your children. Have at least one date-night a month with their mother. Show affection to your wives so the children can be raised with a good example of caring and nurture.
Let me share a story.
One time there was an extremely devout Orthodox Jew who was close to death. His wife and daughter came to his bedside, and his wife said, "Mosha, you've been such a good and pious provider to us all your life, is there anything we can get you?" Mosha answered, "Yes. I want a ham sandwich." The wife and daughter were horrified, but they got the ham sandwich and he ate it quickly. His wife finally summoned the courage to ask him, "Mosha, all your life you've been so devout and strict on yourself, how could you bring yourself to eat ham?" Mosha replied, "So, I'll tell you. I'm now 85 and I'm going to die soon. I know that when I get to Judgement Day, the Lord will ask, "Mosha, all in all you lived a very good life. But remember the time you stole those apples as a boy, and remember the time you cheated on your taxes, and remember when you talked ugly to your brother-in-law." Well, as soon as the Lord gets to the ham sandwich, I'll know he is finished."
Dads and grand-dads, some day God will require that you account for the way you raised your child, the way you treated your wife, and their and your relationship to Jesus Christ. God's hope is that your wife, child, and grandchild will enjoy a Christ-filled life of love and in the life to come, be with you in heaven.
SO, play the man!
Be your wife's champion.
Be your child's champion!
Be God's champion!
Be a 'real' man!
Amen.
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