I am thankful that we have a set aside a day to honor our fathers. Scripture promises us that when we honor our father and mother, that we will live a blessed and long life.
“‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’” (Ephesians 6:2-3 NKJV).
My father passed away when I was nineteen years old. Therefore, I did not have the privilege of having a relationship with my father as an adult. He has been absent from my life throughout my 30 years of marriage and our two sons.
Sometimes we take living for granted. Yet Scriptures tell us we are not promised tomorrow. That life is like a mist—here for a moment, then it’s gone (see James 4:14).
I am grateful for the childhood memories I have of my dad. Click here to read how I Thought He Would Always Be There.
Joys of Seeing My Husband as a Father
Eighteen months after my husband, Eldon and I married, we welcomed our first son into our lives. From the moment of birth, Eldon has been a fabulous father. He rocked, cradled, fed, and even changed poopy diapers—including the blow out kind! And when we welcomed our second son, Eldon remained involved in all aspects of parenting.
As the boys grew, Eldon volunteered to coach teams and taught them to stay active in sports. And every summer, Eldon took the boys on an annual totally-roughing-it camping trip. When the boys were old enough, he taught them how to drive, hunt, and fish.
After our oldest son, Stephen was arrested and detained in a county jail, I prayed about the relationship between father and son.
My first prayer was based on Romans 8:28 and I asked the Lord to work out all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Second, I prayed that God would turn the heart of the father to his son and the heart of the son to the father (see Malachi 4:6).
I thank God for answering prayers! Our oldest son confessed that the unconditional love he received from his father in his incarceration led him to receive the love of Christ!
I also prayed that this tragedy would not break the bond between Eldon and our youngest son, Chase. Thankfully, their relationship has not been severed and remains strong in the Lord to this day.
I take great delight in watching my husband be a good father!
Bonus Dads
I am also grateful that the Lord gave me bonus dads! For thirty years, my father-in-love, Byron has been a big part of our family dynamic. And for twenty-one years, I’ve had Bill as my other bonus dad when he married my mother.
Many times both of these men traveled long distances to visit our family. We are grateful now to reside in the same community where seeing one another on a frequent basis has become the norm.
Yes, for Father’s Day I am grateful I am able to be with these men and honor them on a day set aside for dads.
I pray that you will take a few moments to honor your father—whether you are near or far or even if your father has passed on—reflect on the good times with him and give God thanks.