FATHER’S DAY WITH DAD
by Dr. Wayne Evans

           
     As we dads  enjoy being “King for a Day,” I am all too aware how imperfect I was as a father when my children were still at home.  Too often I was preoccupied with my job as a pastor. It’s hard for four children to compete for Daddy’s attention when the man of the house is working for the Lord. I regret my impatience with them and other failures which I prefer not to confess publicly.

     I have been blessed with a wonderful father.  He provided so well for us, in spite of his own childhood in a family that had so little in the Great Depression.  In previous columns I’ve told you about him, but let me repeat myself in saying that only now do I really begin to appreciate his overcoming great obstacles to become a caring, warm, and gracious man.

      I am also proud of my sons who are now fathers of their own children.  They are just starting out in their careers, and yet they find the time to invest in their children in ways I know I failed to do. Ben never misses their games of football, soccer, or baseball.  If work permits he even goes to watch his two sons practice.  Blake is like a kid himself when it comes to playing with his daughter. I have to remind them both that they are not to play chase in our house when they come for a visit.  It is obvious to me that all of  my grandchildren are blessed to have dads who delight in showering attention upon them. 

     When I think of how much I love my children and grandchildren, I remember Jesus saying, “Is there anyone among you  who if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?  Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If  you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the  Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”  (Luke 11: 11-13).

     He loves you so much he gave his most precious gift of his own Son Jesus to die on the cross to make it possible for you to spend eternity with him.

     God loves you so much more than any earthly parent can.  He so much wants to give his very best to you.  So why do we act as if God were stingy?  I suspect the problem is my refusal to ask and receive rather than his failure to offer to us.  This Father’ Day, the very best gift you can give your children is to take them to your Heavenly Father’s house so that they and you will learn how you can all spend eternity together with him.

Wayne Evans is pastor of Ruston’s Grace United Methodist Church. An archive of his past articles is available at www.graceruston.org Follow the link from the Pastor’s Page.