Devotion: Our epiphanies

Perhaps you’ve heard this observation about fatherhood ...

When a child is 4 years old he says proudly, “My dad knows everything about everything.”

When he is 7 he says, “Dad knows almost everything about everything.”

When he is 12 he says, “Well, it’s only natural that Dad doesn’t know everything.”

When he is 14 he says, “Dad is somewhat old fashioned.”

When he is 21 he says, “Dad is hopelessly out of step with the times.”

When he is 25 he says, “Maybe Dad does know something about a few things.”

When he is 35 he says, “Maybe we ought to call

Dad and check this out with him.”

When he is 50 he says, “I wonder what Dad would have thought of this?”

And when he is 65 he says, “I sure wish I could talk to Dad again.”

This Sunday is Father’s Day.

I am convinced that when fathers (and grandfathers) fulfill the spiritual role that God designed for them to play in the family, our homes and our society will change for the good.

Dads and Granddads, here are four suggestions with that end in mind.

First, teach your children and grandchildren respect for parental authority. Exodus 20:12 (NKJV) says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Second, love them unashamedly!

Third, remember that giving them material things is not an adequate expression of love!

Finally, bring them up in the fear and admonition of the LORD.

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NKJV) says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength ... “

If we want our children to place their hands trustingly into the hand of their heavenly Father, they need to see their earthly father’s love for God ... and they need know him as one who will take the time to stop and smell the flowers with them.