Fathers Day

             Fathers Day is kind of an afterthought to Mothers Day.  During the first part of the last century sputtering efforts were made at having a day for Fathers.  It wasn’t until 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the third
Sunday of June as Fathers Day.  In 1972 President Nixon signed into law the observance.

            Fathers don’t receive the same outpouring of praise or love that mothers receive.  But this is to be expected.  Looking back, it was mom that took care of the children.  She was there to cook their meals, wash and iron their clothes, kiss their “boo boos,” read to them, teach them, get them to school on time, help with homework, ferry them to a multitude of activities, and to counsel them in times of hurt, fears and stress.  Most of the time mom is the “rock” of their existence.

            To be fair, dads now are doing many of these things, in contrast to many dads in the past.  In previous generations fathers were there to provide the material things necessary and to exercise discipline when things got out of hand.  In those generations father’s left the “mothering” to their wives.  Even though dads are doing more of those things, it is still mom who does the primary nurturing.

            The tragedy of our generation is the multitude of single mothers raising children without the support of a husband.  I don’t have the statistics, but I am aware of the epidemic.  This is not to say they cannot do the job well.  They deserve a double dose of praise and thanksgiving.

            But if you have (or had) a father who stands beside you, provides for you, and is part of your growing years, be thankful unto God and express gratitude and honor to him on this Father’s Day.  And if your father has gone on to the next life, give thanks to God for him.  And, men, let the lord lead you to become a father figure to some child who does not have a father in his life, for whatever reason.

Grace and peace.