Time to celebrate fatherhood

Would you prefer a tough man or a loving father?

It’s Father’s Day weekend and it’s time to celebrate fatherhood.

I became a father over 38 years ago and as I look back I can see that being a good father and raising good children was lots of work. Not so much about me working on others to mold them into what I wanted but it’s been God molding me into what He wants.

When I think about my childhood it’s strange the way that I was trained to become a man. I was told or they set the example that men don’t cry, men must win at any cost, real super men never make mistakes and never say they’re sorry, and men never, never, never under any circumstances play house.

These childhood lessons that I learned about being a men all worked until I got married and had children. Then all the above training had to go out the window. It was no longer be a tough guy and never admit to being wrong but if I wanted a loving and kind home then I had to become a loving and kind father and husband.

At first I know that I made lots of mistakes. In my defense I was only doing what I had been trained to do. What do you do when the only thing that you know to do is not the right thing to be doing?

I remember praying and asking God for help. I said, ‘God! I don’t know how to be what You and others I love are expecting me to be. I have no example, no pattern, no mentor, and no person in my past that can show me how to become what I want to become in my future.’

Then I read 1 Corinthians 13:11. “When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

This verse gave me a key; there must be some childish things that I had to put away. Some childish behavior that I had to stop doing. My big question was what exactly are those things?

Then I found James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

I must have prayed this verse a thousand times. ‘God help me to become wiser so I might become what my heart longs to be.’

Isaiah 1:19 “If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.”

This is where I discovered something about myself. I may be willing to change but I may not be ready to obey. The test of obedience is to do what’s right because it’s the right thing to do.

My childhood thought was never lose and if you can’t win get even. God’s thought, keep on the road that leads to peace, and fight no battles that hold no spoils. Wisdom dares to ask; What do I get for winning and what do I lose for winning? I discovered that I can become a bigger winner if I humble myself and just die to my old selfish ways.

Jesus taught us to pray, ‘Our Father which art in Heaven.’ His Holy Father is a high standard and example for us to follow. If you have a good father in your life take the time this weekend to honor them and thank him for trying their best to be there for you.

Find a good church to attend. God bless you all.