We celebrate Father’s Day every year. Each of us who is a father, or wants to become one, must ask ourselves what kind of father we were, or are, or want to be one day. Let’s look at just two examples and their consequences.
Riaan Stoffels’ (see photo) father did not have a steady job and was a excessive drinker. At 16, Riaan started smoking marijuana. He then became involved in gangs. At 17, he had already been jailed for serious crimes such as robbery, murder and rape. He says: “We just thought it was right, it’s cool. We get the love and peace we do not get at home.”.
Bilquis Sheikh says: “As a little girl, my father didn’t mind if I bothered him. Whenever I had a question or problem, he would put aside his work to devote his full attention just to me. It was well past midnight when I (at 54) lay in bed savouring this wonderful memory. “Oh, thank You…” I murmured to God … Was I really talking to Him? Suddenly, a ray of hope flashed through me. If my earthly father would put aside everything to listen to me, wouldn’t my heavenly Father…? Shaking with excitement, I got out of bed, sank to my knees on the rug, looked up to heaven and in a rich new understanding called God “my Father.” … And suddenly the room wasn’t empty anymore. He was there!
Someone writes: “If I had my child to raise all over again, I’d build self-esteem first and the house later. I would do less correcting and more connecting. I would care to know less and know to care more. I’d take more hikes and fly more kites. I’d do more hugging and less tugging. I would be firm less often and affirm much more … ”
The question is also, of course, how children behave towards their fathers. It happens so often that children drop off their parents at a retirement home, visit them seldom or never after that and finally show up at the funeral for the reading of the will. Sometimes this happens because there was discord between parent and child. After his conversion, Riaan Stoffels returned to his father. He says: “I realized there could be peace again, we could fix things again, we could embrace each other.”
If you can still contact your father, do so, especially on Father’s Day. Next year it may be too late. Jesus gives us only one commandment, a new commandment. John 13:34: ”And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” This also applies to your father. Especially to your father!
On Father’s Day, we should especially think of our heavenly Father. Jesus teaches us to pray: “Our Father which art in heaven …” We can really talk to Him. He is our Father. He is listening !
Our heavenly Father, what a wonderful privilege we have to call You our Father. Amen.
Gert Berning
