A father and son story …
Many years ago, in the days of no indoor plumbing, a young farm boy and his friend from down the road got into a mischievous mood one day and decided to push over the outhouse.
The next day, the young boy’s father confronted him. “Son, do you know anything about the outhouse being turned over on its side? Tell me the truth now.”
The boy decided to call upon an incident in history in which George Washington made a confession to his father that he had cut down a cherry tree. So the young man said, “Dad, I cannot tell a lie. Yes, I pushed over the outhouse.”
His father said, “Come with me to the woodshed, and we will see about your punishment. You’re going to regret this, I’ll make sure of that!”
“But Dad,” said the son. “I thought I should tell you truth, you know, like George Washington admitting he cut down the cherry tree! And his father didn’t punish him, he was proud of him for telling the truth! So what’s the difference? Why do I get punished and he didn’t?”
“Well, son,” said the father. “Here’s the difference. George Washington’s father was not in the cherry tree at the time!”
Oops!
TODAY’S VERSE: The righteous who walks in his integrity– blessed are his children after him! [Proverbs 20:7]
This coming Sunday is Fathers’ Day. My father died 26 years ago. I can’t believe he’s been gone that long. He is the most genuine and kind man I have ever known. He was a pastor all his life.
It was 46 years ago that I became a father. My assistance for raising kids came from the Bible, the example of my own father, guidance from other wise people, and books by those with the gift of teaching. My failures were many, but I kept on trying.
FOR YOU FATHERS who are reading this … Happy Father’s Day! It is an honor and a privilege to be a father. Here are some things I have done regarding my father:
- I have carried with me his approval. I knew he loved me.
- I have forgiven him for his failures.
- I have embraced his gifts and positive characteristics that ended up in me.
- I have used some of his failures as inspiration for me to do better.
- I retell the stories of good times and hard times, of great fun and lessons learned.
Perhaps you would like to make your own list of how you have processed the fathering you have received and in what way you can affirm your father. None of us can possibly get everything we need from an earthly father. The design is to move on as an adult from dependence on an earthly father to dependence on our Heavenly Father, who continues the fathering job for the rest of our lives.
My prayer today … Thank you, Lord, for being a perfect Father to me. Thank you for my father; he was one of the good ones. Thank you for my son and sons-in-law, and lead them to be strong fathers. Thank you, Lord, for making up the difference, for all of us, between what we “needed” and what we “got” from an earthly father. May we as a people honor our fathers this weekend, while remembering that none of us are perfect. Forgive us. We are grateful, Heavenly Father, that you are the best! AMEN.
Happy Father’s Day!
Chaplain Mark
Happy Father’s Day Mark