Father's Day is coming!

A True Father..Series 5 Quarter 2

Father’s Day...for many it’s a time for new ties and long-distance calls. Illinois Bell reported several years ago that the number of long-distance calls made on Father's Day was increasing faster than the number on Mother's Day. The company said the figures were accurate, even though it took several weeks longer to compile Father's Day statistics than it did for Mother's Day. The reason for the delay: most calls on Father's Day were collect.

It is a day of Hallmark cards, and family meals. It is all to honor our fathers.

It is amazing how we go through stages in life in our relationship with our dads. Someone has said that at age four we explain, “My dad can do anything.” At age seven we say, “My dad knows a lot.” By age 12 we’re saying, “Oh well, we can’t expect Dad to know everything.” At age 14 we say, “My dad is hopelessly out of date and old-fashioned.” By the time we reach 21 years of age we are saying, “What should I expect? He just doesn’t understand.” At age 25 we begin to say, “My dad knows a little bit but not too much.” By age 30 we say, “I need to find out what Dad thinks.” At age 40 we ask, “What would Dad have thought?” By the time we hit 50 we’re saying, “My dad knew everything!” And, at 60 years of age we usually say, “I wish I could talk it over with Dad just one more time.”

There are not a lot of role models around today. However, there’s one tucked away in the parables of our Lord who is overlooked because he gives away center stage to his two sons. He is the father in the story of the prodigal son and the older brother. There is much we can learn from him on this Father’s Day. He parented his sons with a willingness to release, to receive and to respect.  He was a true father.  Let’s look at him and learn from him on this Father’s Day.

More points in this message:

 A TRUE FATHER IS WILLING TO RELEASE

 A TRUE FATHER IS WILLING TO RECEIVE

 A TRUE FATHER IS WILLING TO RESPECT

Final illustration: A man had this testimony: “When I was a small boy growing up in Pennsylvania we would often visit my grandparents who lived nine miles away. One night a thick fog settled over the hilly countryside before we started home. I remember being terrified, and asking if we shouldn't be going even slower than we were. Mother said gently, ‘Don't worry. Your father knows the way.’

You see, Dad had walked that road when there was no gasoline during the war. He had ridden that blacktop on his bicycle to court Mother. And for years he had made those weekly trips back to visit his own parents.

How often when I can't see the road of life, and have felt that familiar panic rising in my heart I have heard the echo of my mother's voice: ‘Don't worry. Your Father knows the way.’”