Third Sunday in June is traditionally and universally Fathers’ Day; A Day set aside to honour and celebrate Fathers. However, this year, for some reasons, the ordination of priests, fell on that day, so, as a Parish, we took a decision to transfer the celebrations to today, July 11. Is your Father alive? Any Father figure? Including your husbands and Priests, celebrate them, show them you care.
The Bible shows a Father as the head of the family, the ruler, and provider, and one who trains his children in the fear of God – Provb. 22:6.
One of the things I would suggest all parents to do, Father and Mother is to teach your children to love God and obey His commandments. Being a Father is a great responsibility; it takes more than just bringing them into the world; it becomes a lifetime commitment. A lot of children when they are grown will still need their parents in many ways.
We never lose our need for parental guidance. Fathers are not very patient today with their children we expect them to know everything we want them to do.
A good thing to teach your children is love and how to express their love by showing them love. Don’t just say well they know I love them and expect that to take the place of a hug or a kind word or just saying I love you and I am proud of you.
We sometimes forget how long it took us to master the things we know. Eph. 6:4…fathers provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Col 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
These scriptures should be guidelines for us all the time. We as Fathers are not taskmasters but leaders by example. A lot of sons follow in the footsteps of their fathers. But that isn’t always the case, some stray from the teachings of their father. Sometimes that is good, if the Father is not exhibiting right Christian living, but could spell danger if the Father is living a righteous life.
- In church Parents ought to teach their children to worship.
- You teach them by example they need to see you worship.
The greatest responsibility of parents is to lead our children to the kingdom of heaven.
Today, generality of the people complain of the challenges in the economy, and it looks true. Let’s encourage our Fathers, pray for them, that they be the head and never the tail, be on top and never beneath, and the totality is that may God grant them all the desires of their hearts.
Love a father today. Happy Father’s Day!
Your Vicar and friend.
The Venerable Kiri Wakama.
