Father’s Day

By: Dr. Stanley Watson 

In the dictionary a father is a man who begets or raises a child. Today let's honor those who nurture and raise their children. We would do well to ignore the shrill accusations of that small group of women who label all men as being oppressive, overbearing and insensitive simply because they are men. Why? Because this nation has a host of fathers who are responsible and caring and their families are doing very well indeed. They love their wives and children and are loved in return.

Many of them follow the teachings of Jesus who chose to identify God himself as the Heavenly Father. In what might be the world's most popular story of all time Jesus described the traits of the ideal father. The story is generally called "The Prodigal Son." but If you will reread it in Luke 15:11-24 it will become clear that Jesus is identifying the father as God and the wayward son as each and every one of us. The traits of the father in the story stand out clearly as follows:

• A good provider, owning a large farm with hired laborers and an abundance of material possessions with which to care for his family.
• A generous spirit, giving his son his inheritance before his own death.
• A deep concern for the welfare of his son who chose to take his wealth and leave home for places unknown.
• A forgiving father who accepted his son, now broke and repentant, back into the family circle.
• A loving father who ran to his son, embraced and kissed him and had a banquet to celebrate his return home.

In recent years the importance of the role of the father has been questioned but numerous studies prove that the Father's role is as important as that of the mother. You don't have to review the research to verify this fact. Ask the mother of any successful family and if doubts still linger, ask the single mother who is struggling to fill the role of both father and mother.

Yes, today is the day set aside to honor the many fathers who provide, however modestly, for their families, who are generous, who care deeply for their wives and children, who rejoice when the children learn from their mistakes, and who express their affection freely. If you ask you will also find that most of them get their strength from the relationship they enjoy with their Heavenly Father. As we observe Father's Day, let us pray that the next great revival will be for more fathers who fill their roles after the example of the Heavenly Father.

• He provides us with an earth rich in resources; enough for everyone.
• He gives us the freedom to make use of all that he has provided.
• He is concerned for our welfare more deeply then we can imagine.
• He forgives us when we repent of our many mistakes and accepts us back into full fellowship with Him and His family.
• He blesses us every day with his love because, as the apostle John pointed out, "God Is Love."