Joshua 1:9
"...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
FATHERS' DAY HISTORY
Sonora Dodd, of Washington, first had the idea of a "father's day." She thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Sonora wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. Smart, who was a Civil War veteran, was widowed when his wife died while giving birth to their sixth child. Mr. Smart was left to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in eastern Washington state.
After Sonora became an adult she realized the selflessness her father had shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.
President Calvin Coolidge, in 1924, supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Then in 1966 President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation declaring the 3rd Sunday of June as Father's Day.
#1. WHAT IS A DAD?
A dad is someone who wants to catch you before you fall but instead picks you up, brushes you off, and lets you try again. A dad is someone who wants to keep you from making mistakes but instead lets you find your own way, even though his heart breaks in silence when you get hurt. A dad is someone who holds you when you cry, scolds you when you break the rules, shines with pride when you succeed, and has faith in you even when you fail... Dad, you're everything a dad should be and some.
~~By Susan Ceylise.~~
#2. WHAT IS A DAD?
A Dad is a person who is loving and kind, And often he knows what you have on your mind. He's someone who listens, suggests, and defends. A dad can be one of your very best friends! He's proud of your triumphs, but when things go wrong, A dad can be patient and helpful and strong In all that you do, a dad's love plays a part. There's always a place for him deep in your heart. And each year that passes, you're even more glad, More grateful and proud just to call him your dad! Thank you, Dad... for listening and caring, for giving and sharing, but, especially, for just being you! Happy Father's Day!
~~Author Unknown.~~
Fatherhood is not only celebrated on special occasions like today, but as a matter of course because the role of the father is being systematically attacked and destroyed in our culture. Our society has attacked the role of Fathers with such devastating force that sociologists now believe we have sentenced the next generations to disastrous consequences because of this devaluation of the role of Fathers!
In the plan of God, however, that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. Whatever may be happening in society around us, we have a responsibility, as Christian Fathers, we need to step up to the plate and execute the role that God has assigned to our hearts and hands to do. What then is the role of a Christian Father in today’s compromising society? Let’s look to the Bible.
1. Christian Father’s Won’t Provoke their Children’s Wrath: (Eph. 6:1-4 )
The first thing Paul says to Father’s is a word of warning! Don’t provoke your children. This doesn’t mean what you think. I don’t know any dad that hasn’t made his children mad. I think it’s in the daddy manual, right after taking out the trash, dads make everybody mad every once in awhile! After all, dad’s often have to say no, that's because dads enforce the rules often of the family. But in all of this a Godly Christian dad should never act out of anger! It’s when a child doesn’t get that message of un-dying, un-ending love that his wrath is kindled. One of the biggest problems of modern society is what psychologist call “Daddy Longing” Dad’s are not there to disciple in love often because they are too busy to show that they care. Today’s children are of divorce, broken homes, and latch key kids. And these kids are ANGRY! It’s the lack of love that makes children angry and causes problems.
2. Christian Father’s Bring Children Up With Nurture: ( Prov. 3:11-12, Heb 12:5-9 )
The second thing Paul says to Fathers is a word of counsel. After telling dads what not to do he encourages fathers to give children plenty of nurturing. The Bible says raise or bring them up. In fact its quite explicit God says - In the nurture of the Lord! Just like a farmer raises tender plants, waters them, covers them from frost, and feeds them fertilizer so they produce – so fathers are to NURTURE their children in the Lord! Someone will say that’s just spoiling them. No, you don’t have to give them everything they want, that’s not nurturing that’s being a grandparent. Biblical nurture is laying a Godly foundation in love and by example.
3. Christian Father’s Bring Children Up With Admonition: (Dut. 6:4-9 )
The last thing Paul says to Fathers is a word of encouragement! After counseling them to nurture their children, he also encourages dads to ADMONISH their children. This is at the heart of being a dad. In this entire section, Paul is giving instruction to Christian parents; the idea is that God designed the Christian home to consist of mother and father each fulfilling their respective roles. Everyone knows that God made mothers to be the best at nurturing – but dad’s are not to abdicate their responsibility here they need to come right along side their mate in the process of child raising and nurturing as well.
This is where fathers must really step up to the plate in the area of ADMONISHING their children. What does that mean? To admonish means to teach! Dads must teach their children the important lessons of life.
Dads, if you don’t teach your child how to work, the world will teach them how to steal. If you don’t teach your sons how to love and respect a woman, the world will teach him how to be a gigolo. If you don’t teach your child honesty, the world will teach them to be a cheat!
Be there always sharing God's love with your children and be rewarded in your heart for sharing that love.