I am thankful that I grew up having a loving father. My father was a great role model for my brother and myself. We learned right from wrong and learned how to become men. I know that for some of you fathers day brings back sad memories of your father. Some of you may have never had a father in your life at all.
Being a loving father is something that I take great joy and responsibility in. It is my job as my children's father to show them how to live a Christ-centered life. My example to them will help form the way they are when they become adults. There are a great burden and a great reward that comes with being a father. The burden is that you have to sacrifice yourself. When you have children, it is your responsibility to provide for your kids. Not only are you called to support your family as a provider financially, but you are called to lead your household.
Being a loving father by being a leader.
No doubt that being a father is a challenging job. Just like anything, the more that you put into your relationship with your children the more you get in return. There is nothing in the world that can beat a hug from one of your kids. It still melts my heart when my children get excited to see me when I come home from work. I will never get tired of the kids yelling “dad” and running towards me with open arms.
The Bible tells us how we should train our children. One of my favorite Bible verses is found in Proverbs 22:6.
Proverbs 22:6 NASB Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Fellowship with your father.
Tomorrow as you celebrate father's day, do not forget your heavenly father as well. Our relationship with our heavenly father is far more important than the relationship with our earthly father. Our heavenly Father created us because he is a loving father.
1 John 3:1 NASB See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.