“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.” Proverbs 23:24
When I was growing up I yearned to be rich like my friend Todd. Both his folks had careers, and they bought Todd toys. Lots of toys.
One was Creepy Crawlers—an oven set where you poured glue-like goo into a dye cast mold, baked it, let it cool, and then peeled off your insect creation.
One day I was playing at Todd’s, and he was around the corner. Creepy Crawler creations littered the floor around me. Lucky kid I thought. He won’t miss one of these little guys. So I took a black dragonfly and stuffed it in my pocket.
When I went home that day I felt pretty good about myself; I had gotten away with it. Later that night, however, my conscience went to work and tears began to flow. I was a thief! A criminal! And not much of a friend either.
I went downstairs to find my dad sitting on the couch reading. He tuned in to my dire emotions and asked what was up. I spilled the beans, and my guts. But the guilty feeling remained.
We talked and he said, “You know, there’s a way to get rid of guilt. God tells us if we confess our sins he is faithful and fair in forgiving us, and he’s willing to cleanse us from its ugliness too.” Within minutes he helped me confess not just that creepy sin but past ones too. I became a Jesus follower.
Has your dad been instrumental in your faith walk? Or perhaps a father figure has. Or perhaps your father has influenced you positively in ways not necessarily spiritual. Does he know you appreciate his effort, even if meager?
Dear God, thank You for dads. They are not perfect human beings but they have helped shape me into who I am today. Bless dad today. Amen.
Take Action
Father’s Day is this Sunday. Send a note to your dad and mention two things you really appreciate about him. If he is already passed away, send the note to a man you respect who has positively influenced you.
Is past hurt making it hard to bless your father? Read Free Your Dad: Free Yourself.