And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4
Yesterday was the day set aside to honor fathers in our country. I like this day because it allows me the time to reflect on my own dad and even more to think of my Heavenly Father. My earthly dad deserves my honor and respect and my Heavenly Father has made the way for me to be with Him in His glory and throughout the eternal ages. So as I prepared my writing for this morning I thought about what this current generation thinks of their earthly father.
I recall the earliest days of television and how dads were portrayed. From the beginning we were shown men like Ben Cartwright, Lucas McCann, Steve Douglas and Alex Stone. If you are not familiar with these characters then google Bonanza, The Rifleman, My Three Sons and The Donna Reed Show. These dads were not portrayed as buffoons, but as men who were wise and caring. Long gone are the Andy Griffith types who could make us laugh, but also taught us real lessons. I bring up these men because my own dad was a man who we might know as a man’s man.
My own dad announced his faith in Jesus Christ when I was seven. He put away the life he used to live and totally dedicated himself to his Savior. Away from church he lived his life for his Savior. Dad could be funny but he was never a buffoon. He wasn’t an absentee dad. He loved his sons and daughter and raised us with a Bible in one hand and hammer in the other. We were taught to work and love the Lord. We were taught that it was alright to take a vacation, but always we were in the presence of God. In life we were shown how to do our best for God and enjoy the fruits of our labors. To other men, dad was respected and many men sought him out. They knew him as a friend with a ready smile and a love for God. When dad passed away the funeral home stayed open way past the hour of their closing just to accommodate those who wanted to show their respects. Yes, this was my dad.
(to be continued)
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