Many of us have various reflections of our fathers while we were growing up. Not all of the memories are glamorous and some of us even carry some painful memories. We could all probably recall times when dad "blew his top" and times when dad was the "comedian" of the family. Some dads just did better than other dads--for various reasons. Although we certainly know that dad was not perfect, God allowed us to have the father that He knew we needed. Many fathers worked with the best skill set that was passed along to them by their fathers. By God's grace, some fathers really fulfilled the role of father that God called them to--despite their humble beginnings in life.
I lost my father at an early age due to pancreatic cancer (he was only 45). During my adult life I've not been blessed to have a father to consult with on big life decisions or to just hear the words, "good job son." However, it doesn't mean I'm not thankful for a father who worked tirelessly in a very physical maintenance job to provide for his family. My father would have been considered an average man and he had very little high school education. He was not a pillar of our church and some might say he was a little rough around the edges. I would say he was definitely a man's man. Hard work, firm hand shake, keeping his word, and staying away from girly things characterized him pretty well. Dad showed love by telling us that he loved us and by working hard to take care of us. As I think about it, dad may not have been even an average guy compared to some men--but he was my dad and he taught me some valuable things for this life.
I'd like to say only a couple of things about dads and this special Father's Day Weekend. Pray for your dads and be thankful for them. They lead up front, experience some tough pressure, and they drop the ball at times. Remember they love you and that they may not always demonstrate the love in their hearts that they have for you in the way that they would like to show that love to you. Please know that many of us dads wish we had the deluxe tool set passed along to us in order to be a better dad--it doesn't mean we won't try and make use of what we have. Please forgive us (don't excuse us) as we fail to be the best example that Christ wants us to be for you. Lastly, let us know when we could do better but also please let us know if we might be doing something right. It is our goal not to fail at being a good father.
Billy Graham once said, "A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the MOST VALUABLE assets in our society."
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