Father’s Day Message: Honor your Father

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12 (NIV)

It’s father’s day again and it’s an opportunity for you to give on this day honor and focus on your father, dad, daddy, uncle, cousin, or brother. This is a chance to show love in action and not mere words. If your father feared the Lord and took fatherhood seriously enough to support and nurture you then you were blessed. In Proverbs 23:24(NIV) it says, “the father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.” In some cases God has placed father figures from your family or community to fill the void.
Those men need to be honored and recognized for their fathering spirit. You also may have lost your father this year and it is hard for you to think about this day. However, consider a way to honor your father’s memory.

The word father has many interpretations. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Dad. Some men play an active part in raising their kids, through discipline and even diaper duty. Others are behind the scenes kind of guys, supporting their families by paying the bills. There are some fathers who express their love more by what they do rather than conveying verbal expressions such as I love you. There are other fathers who verbally express their love and show affection to their children. You must understand that a father’s job is one of pride for the entire family. They are proud of their children because they bear their name and honor. Fathers are proud to be the leaders in their homes and strive to meet every need and wants for their families. Show your Dad how much you appreciate his hard work.

Our fathers need to be honored for their integrity, strength, sound advice and leadership that they provide for the family. In Proverbs 10:9(NIV) it says, “the man of integrity walks securely.” Fathers give the family that sense of security and protection from negative forces that surround us in the world. It’s nothing like feeling that when Daddy’s home; everything is all right.

You already know what brings a smile to your Dad’s face; for instance, maintaining good grades in school, making wise choices in your relationships with friends, becoming independent and self-sufficient by earning your own money and not always depending on using Dad’s Bank of America.

Here are some creative ways to honor your father on his special day this year. Cost is irrelevant; it’s your thoughtful gesture that counts.

1. Treat your Dad to his favorite restaurant or cook his favorite meal.
2. Surprise him with a letter reflecting on past memories of him.
3. If your father is deceased, visit his grave as a family and spend time reflecting on him.
4. Give your father a surprise visit this year and show him how much you care about him on his special day.
5. Create a collage of photos of your Dad taken though the years and present it to him.
6. Put on a family program sharing funny memories and good times.
7. Send video messages and care packages to fathers serving in the war.

It’s important to show appreciation through respect, affection, honor and love. Make this father’s day one the best your father has ever had. You know what to do to bring him joy, and improve his life. By giving honor to your father, your relationship grows. Your act of honoring your father on his day will evoke a loving response from him. He will cherish your act of thinking that he was worthy of the honor you are giving him.

On this Father’s day honor him, celebrate him and show him you really do appreciate everything he does. The most important gift you can give your dad is your time and energy.

Richard Cox
RACLGC@yahoo.com