“For no other foundation can anyone
lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”-1Cor 3:11 (NKJV)
I can still
remember my first Father’s Day. My daughter was a little more than a month old.
It was the first time I ever saw her smile, and her mom and I were on our way
to church to have her dedicated to the Lord. The service went great and there
were lots of amenities to spoil us dads along the way. But somewhere between
leaving church and hitting the driveway at her mom’s house things went south
between her mother and I. Although I do not remember what exactly started the
argument, all I remember is my daughter being carried off by her mom back into
the house- balling her brains out as they disappeared from my sight. Not
exactly the way I wanted my first Father’s Day to end.
I remember
leaving there so upset and confused, burning with anger towards her mom as I
drove off. “She’s ruined my first
Father’s Day,” I said to myself, “I
will never be able to get this back!”All I wanted was to be a dad and be
able to pour into my daughter more than I had ever received from my own
parents. Now that moment was stolen from me. Obviously, my daughter’s mother
and I were not on the best of terms. We were never married and it was a very
intense situation. Even though we had just left church, I was not a true
believer in Jesus Christ at this point in my life. I did not yet have the
foundation or wisdom I would need along the way to not only endue future
trials, but to be a great dad and give my daughter my absolute best. Praise God
that His plan had been written long before this ever happened, as I came to
know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior later on that winter. This coming
Father’s Day will be seven years since the events above occurred. Although I
still experience many of the same trials that single parents face on a regular
basis, I now have that foundation of Rock to stand on and enjoy not only this
holiday with my daughter, but every single moment we get to be together. Dads,
no matter what type of circumstance you are facing this weekend, I am here to
give you hope and encouragement of just how important and impacting you already
are as Christian men in your children’s lives. You may have full or partial custody
of your kids; or perhaps this is your first Father’s Day as a single father,
due to a divorce or as a widower. You possibly have the entire weekend to spend
with your son or daughter, or maybe you will not be able to see them at all for
whatever reason. Regardless of your situation this coming Sunday (or any other
day for that matter), you have several opportunities to fulfill your role as a
godly father.
Pray for your children
The Bible is
very clear as to a father’s authority over his children. We are their spiritual
leaders (1Thess 2:11-12) and they will model what they see and learn from us
(Prov 13:1, 23:24, Eph 6:4). Use every opportunity you have to pray with and
for your kids. Be authentic and transparent, allowing them to see the gospel
being lived out in your life.
Cherish these times
Maria
Edgeworth once said, If we take care of
the moments, the years will take care of themselves.” Time is an incredible gift from God- one we often
take for granted on a regular basis. Dads, we only get one shot to pour into
our children in this life, don’t waste it. Yes, we may screw up majorly along
the way, but always remember, it is not how you start out in life- but how you
finish. Father’s Day is a wonderful reminder we get every year of just how
special we are to our children.
Create a legacy built on Christ
Our
faithfulness to the Lord now will continue on through the generations after we
are gone (Deut 7:9). Take a self examination of where you truly stand in your
relationship with Jesus by applying your life to God’s Word. If need be, make
the necessary changes to align your heart with His and then model the same to
your kids. It’s never too late to begin.
So what does
all of this really have to do with Father’s Day? Simple: Yes, this is “our day”
to relax, grill, golf, and to celebrate being a dad. However, it ultimately
comes down to our significance and importance as a father and leading our kids
in Christ. We don’t get a day off from this, and single dads are by no means
exempt from God’s calling. Enjoy this weekend with your kids, dad. Just remember
to keep our Father in the center and give Him the glory in your own life for
the amazing gift of fatherhood!
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