From the Preacher’s Pen

RacineBuildingOne of the saddest things to see is a child without loving parents. There is never any substitute, any treasure that can replace a father’s and mother’s love. Undoubtedly that is why God is so often portrayed for us in scripture as our Heavenly Father. Yes, He is God, Creator and Judge for us. But above all else, He is our Father.

Since today is “Father’s Day” it’s important for us to understand a bit about just what these strange creatures really are. While mothers are nice, warm, loving creatures, fathers can be more intimidating on the outside. Try this little article on for size and especially note how well it describes not only good earthly fathers but also, in so many ways, our Heavenly Father. And let’s join in paying tribute to all of our great fathers today!

What Makes a Father?

A father is a person who is forced to endure childbirth without an anesthetic. He growls when he feels good and laughs very loud when he is scared half-to-death.

A father never feels entirely worthy of the worship in a child’s eyes. He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks. Never quite the man his son believes him to be. And this worries him sometimes. (So he works too hard to try to smooth the rough places in the road of those of his own who will follow him.)

A father is a person who goes to war sometimes…and would run the other way except that war is part of his only important job in his life, (which is making the world better for his child than it has been for him).

Fathers grow older faster than people, because they, in other wars, have to stand at the train station and wave goodbye to the uniform that climbs on board.

And, while mothers cry where it shows, fathers stand and beam, outside – and die inside.
Fathers are men who give daughters away to other men who aren’t nearly good enough so that they can have children that are smarter than anybody else’s.

Fathers fight dragons almost daily. They hurry away from the breakfast table, off to the arena which is sometimes called an office or a workshop. There, with calloused hands, they tackle the dragon with three heads; Weariness, Works, and Monotony. And they never quite win the Fight, but they never give up.

Knights in shining armor; fathers in shiny trousers. There’s little difference as they march away each workday.

I don’t know where a father goes when he dies, but I’ve an idea that, after a good rest, wherever it is, he won’t just sit on a cloud and wait for the son he adores or the girl he’s loved and the children she bore. He’ll be busy there too…repairing the stars, oiling the gates, improving the streets, smoothing the way.

— Unknown

You may well imagine that there are many important jobs in life and that they are fulfilling jobs to be enjoyed and appreciated. But there really is no job that compares to being a parent. No job contributes so much to the future. No job means so much to another person, another soul.

Oh yes, any father or mother will quickly tell you about the struggles. But the greatest and most fulfilling joys will be kept deep inside… to treasure! Twice Luke very specifically tells us of events in the early life of Jesus on Earth that Mary “treasured in her heart” (Luke 2:19, 51). And we can only imagine the moment when the risen Jesus first appeared to her.

Matthew seemed especially fond of the term “Heavenly Father” and used it more than any other New Testament writer. Don’t you wonder what in his life might have caused him to find that so precious?

Jesus in John’s Gospel (John 8:34-47) pointedly told those who rejected Him that God was NOT their father. They found the idea properly appalling, yet failed to correct their relationship. How sad to have and embrace an evil, wicked father!

Hopefully, we get the picture and the lesson. As we rightly honor earthly fathers, let’s always remember the ultimate standard is set by God. May we truly honor our Heavenly Father this day and every day as the one who brings us life and all things good and righteous.

— Lester P. Bagley