Shopping For A Dad

 

“If I Went Shopping For A Dad” by Helen Kitchell Evans. If I went shopping for a dad, Here is what I’d buy: One who would always stop, To answer a little child’s “Why?” One who would always speak kindly, To a little girl or boy. One who would give to others, A bit of sunshine and joy. I’d pick a dad that followed The Bible’s Golden Rule, And one who went regularly, To church and Sunday school. I’d buy the very finest dad, To place on our family tree, And then I’d try to live like him, So he would be proud of me. Happy Father’s Day from me; TOM

 We are told that children learn many life lessons from their fathers. I am delighted to hear that more and more fathers are seeing the importance of their role in the upbring­ing of their children. A recent survey showed that nearly half of all fathers spend more time with their children than their own dads did with them, and they think that is still not enough. A good father will learn many things from his growing children. For instance: * A king-sized waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2,000 sq. ft. house 5 inches deep. * Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving. * You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is. * Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like hot ovens. * The fire department response time in one’s hometown can show to be surprisingly quick. Of course, this list is only a joke. But there are many important truths fathers have learned from their children. One of them is the importance of love and patience. The Bible says to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12). Raising children requires the patience of Job and the endurance of Paul. That’s no secret. It is rewarding when your children grow up and demonstrate that same patience with you. For example, when your health and strength and memory begin to fade, it is a blessing to have children who are patient with you. When we show patience to our children and our parents and to anyone else, we are imi­tating the example that the Heavenly Father shows to us. “But You, O Lord, are a God full of com­passionate, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15). Lord, thank you for Christian fathers and Christian sons and daughters who are patient with others. And thank you, Lord, for your patience. Amen!

[1 John 3:1] What does it mean to be loved by a father? The apostle John wrote: “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!...” “Behold…” – see, behold, and understand. God wants us to understand how He loves us and has shown His love toward us. God created man to be like Him – giving man an immortal spirit. God has always wanted man to be in His presence, but Genesis chapter three demonstrates just how unlike our Father mankind became. “…what manner of love…” When man chose sin and death, God refused to let his creation perish. God sent His Son to rescue men from darkness, hatred, and death, bringing them to light, love, and life, opening the way back to God (Romans 5:6-11). “…the Father has bestowed on us…” God reached out to man while man was still living in sin and presented a gift of His love; His only begotten Son, Jesus (John 3:16). This gift was designed that we should learn through Jesus to become more like our Father in heaven (Romans 8:29). “…that we should be called children of God.” We have become children of God by putting Christ on in baptism (Galatians 3:26-27). We are redeemed (Galatians 3:13). We are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We now live as servants of righteousness (Romans 6:16-18). A good name brings privileges and wearing the name of Christ as a son of God means more than having the best human family name.