As we celebrate Father’s Day, it can bring back good or bad memories. It depends on what kind of relationship you have with your father. If you have a good father, you have a chance to show him your love and appreciation. If your relationship isn’t all that great, you might want to try to make it better. Nobody’s perfect and maybe you and your father just need a chance to improve. It is so important that it’s included in the Ten Commandments. It says “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee” (Exo 20:12 KJV). So honoring your father can extend your life.
If your father is no longer living, your chance to improve your relationship has passed. That doesn’t mean it is too late to heal your memories through forgiveness. You can’t change his actions or intents, but you can release the pain and bitterness it may have caused. JESUS was our example as He hung on the cross and said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34 KJV). Our forgiveness of others is needed so GOD can forgive us.
Maybe you don’t know your father? For any number of reasons, you may not have known a father’s love. That kind of void in your life can cause pain and create a longing. It may not have anything to do with you or be either of your parents fault. Life and death, love and hate seems to be especially hard on families, but you don’t have to live without a father.
I’m not necessarily talking about a traditional father, who is married to your mother. You can find a father-figure who may never be part of your regular family. They can fill the void and be a better “father” than the traditional kind. I know many Christian men, who have their own families, but still find time to show love to other children.
The Principal of our Christian School is one of those “fathers.” He has a family of his own, but still finds time for young men and women who need his love and guidance. Yes, he is our Youth Pastor and in the ministry, but that busy man mentors and shows them the love of JESUS. This week he took a group of boys and girls to work as interns at a Christian summer camp. He will work right along with them, washing dishes and cleaning, and sleeping on a hard bed, so they can learn to be faithful servants of GOD. His middle-aged body still aches from a basketball ministry he has for non-Church teenagers.
Another father-figure is Jimmy Burns. Though he has a house full of kids and grandkids, and has had health problems, he has always supported youth sports and his dear wife’s children’s ministry. Ready with a friendly smile or a bear-hug, he is someone kids can look up to.
Of course the ultimate Father we can choose is our HEAVENLY FATHER. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). A Father who loves us that much won’t let us down. He will lift us up and bind our wounds. He will also ask us to give of ourselves and be fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers to His other children. Just look what He asked JESUS to do! That shows just how much He loves you and others!
Wayne Lance (2019)