Father's Day

A day to honor Fathers, ours, yours and all. Like so many other things it is easy to get off subject and make it about us. I was searching for videos and other graphics for Sunday and a number bashed Father’s for all kinds of reasons. They may indeed deserve the bashing because there as dead beats out there who did not even try to raise children. But a common thread in the comments was about how bad they were to some individual. The focus shifted from others back to self. It happens a lot.

In a recap of the O.J. Simpson trial a reporter stated the objective of the defense was to put the Los Angeles Police Department on trial. Do you see the tactic is to shift the focus, deflection through distraction? People argue using the same method by bringing in other points that have little to no relation to the original topic. It leaves you confused wondering what all the fuss was about. We see this commonly in political circles where a candidate moves to their own talking points or issues instead of the question at hand. It has this self-serving purpose of distraction and deflection. It shifts the focus back to me and not on others. It’s easy to do.

Father’s day is about our Father’s and more so about our heavenly Father. He is the one who exhibits the self-sacrificing trait that we revere and cherish in our Fathers. God is so self-sacrificing that when his earthly representative fails to meet the responsibility God sends others to step up and fill the task. Other men serve as Fathers on our heavenly Father’s behalf. HE makes it happen. It’s a question of honor for us.

Honor is given. Father’s day is to honor our Heavenly Father first and earthly Father’s second. It’s not about us but about them. What would honor them? What would they receive as honor not what we think of as honor but rather what do they consider honor? A tie, book, new grill maybe not so much. What about respect? What about devotion and loyalty? I think probably so.

So here is my try.

Dad, I really don’t know how to honor you. I remember playing in the front yard. I remember camping in the cold and the heat with you. I remember going to Philmont Scout Ranch and hiking 65 miles when you were 55 years old. I remember times of being very angry with you. I remember times of you being angry with me. I remember and continue to know of your love and pride in me and my family. I know you will do anything for us and because of us. I know you love me/us. I am trying to love my family like you have loved yours as an example of God’s love for us all.

Honor is tough because it’s all about someone else not me. I’m sure I am NOT there yet. I need more practice.

In HIS Service and Yours,
Bro G