Thinking About Dad

As Father's Day is getting closer it brings us to thinking about our dads. For those that are blessed, they have wonderful memories of their dad while they were growing up. Playing catch, going fishing, sitting with him while watching tv or reading...

Being a dad isn't always the easiest thing though. In the Bible, fathers are warned,

"Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in training and admonition of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

While the warning itself is very important, we are not to be unreasonably severe or are we to ridicule our children. This is said to the father because in a Biblical home, the father is the head of the house.  Let's focus on what fathers are suppose to do. Dad is to train the children in the ways of the Lord.

In Deuteronomy 6:7 we are instructed to "teach them[commandments] diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."

As fathers and parents, we are to be continually teaching our children of God. Teaching what He has done, sharing the promises of what is to come and pointing out God's influence all around us.

This isn't to say if you haven't been focusing on God through your parenting journey that you are a failure, start now. Next time you are outside with the kids point out God's creation. Start a family Bible study. Get involved in a Bible believing church.

And for those whose fathers were absent in their lives, whether they were raised by a single mom, an orphan, or had an absentee dad; God loves you and He is there for you.

"When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me." Psalm 27:10 

I pray that you all have a blessed Father's Day weekend. Make it memorable. And feel free to share positive memories of your dad from your childhood.

A favorite memory of mine with my dad is working on my car together, or our old truck. I suppose it would just be working on the cars together. For the fact that I was interested in working on the vehicle with him made him happy, and my frugally minded pocketbook was all for fixing it myself. Dad taught me to not be afraid to try. Doing a tune up, or replacing the timing belt, we may have butted heads a bit, but it also gave us a connection. He was rather impressed on a fix I did one day because I got stuck in first gear and couldn't get the car to shift. I was able to do it because of the confidence he gave me. Love you dad!