Psalms 4:1-4 “My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. What they are teaching you is good, so remember it all.
With Father’s Day approaching, there are so many emotions that swell up within me. The first emotions are the memories of my childhood and the training I received at my father’s side on the farm.
He was a strict and serious man from the depression era who wanted his children to learn to survive and love life. After hearing some quartet music recently, it reminded me of some more important lessons learned during my childhood. Dad’s activities in the church included teaching, leading and particularly singing in a quartet.
Listening to the blends and recalling his bass voice in several quartets brought reminders of pride and awesome respect that I had long forgotten. It was this silent training by example that taught me how service to the Lord can be the most rewarding experience of our lives.
Isn’t it interesting how once our fathers have passed from this world we recall so many things we have wished that could be said to them? One year after my father had passed away, I wrote him a three page letter to just say what was on my heart.
Yet in reading the letter again today, I feel like I could just write him another letter to catch up on what has been happening in my life. He became a close friend to me before he passed away. His wisdom in times past was like that spoken in the scripture above.
The second emotion is that of my life and what my children have learned from me. They know of the many mistakes I’ve made and I see them working hard not to duplicate issues from my past. But the most important words I relish today from my children are, “I Love You”.
As we approach Father’s Day, how are you remembering your father? Is there strife or pain from years ago? Can you focus on the positive training you received from your father? If alive, when was the last time you called and said, “I Love You”?
The best encouragement I can offer is to build a renewed relationship with your father. Love him wherever he is in the journey of life. Enjoy being with him as often as you can. The Lord gave me the time with my father to have a great relationship and build wonderful memories.
Maybe the Lord is giving you this year to build a renewed relationship. We are all children of God, so why don’t we recall the words of wisdom in today’s scripture?
Smile! Think about the good times with the person you call father. Make more memories that will last in your children and their children for generations to come.