REMEMBERING DAD
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”— Eph. 6:4
While my dad was far from perfect he was much better than most. For someone who wasn’t a Christian he was about as good as they get. I could mention many good things about dad, but one of the main things that stands out to me is the feeling of security that dad gave me. He made me feel safe. To my childish mind he could whip anyone if he had to, although he wasn’t a fighter. I also knew that I would have a roof over my head and something to eat. On more than one occasion he told sis and I that he would always make sure we had food on the table.
Dad wasn’t a rich man, but he was a hard worker. We lived in a little four room house– many years without running water. We slept with the windows open except in the winter. It was a great day when we finally got a box fan to put in the window. But we were happy. Every spare minute I was hunting, fishing, or playing baseball. But the main thing that contributed to my happiness was the feeling of security that I enjoyed. I didn’t fear anything as long as dad was around.
Thinking about that I can’t help but wonder how it is with your family. It breaks my heart knowing that many children are made to feel insecure and unhappy. They deserve better than that. It is a shame that anyone would put a kid in that situation. I hate divorce, and so does God, but sometimes what some kids are forced to live with is even worse. Some suffer abuse so horrible that they will never recover from it. Thankfully most homes aren’t that bad, but they can still be much worse than they should.
Children need to know that home is their safe place. They need to know that dad will be there and that he will care for them. And there is a lot more to security than having a safe house, plenty of food, nice clothes, and fun things to do. Your children need a stable home life. They need a father who will communicate with them and care for them. They need a father who will comfort them, help them conquer fear, and face the challenges of life. They need to know that regardless of what happens dad will be there. They need to see him loving their mother, helping their neighbor, and providing for them. They need a dad who provides security in every area of life.
Their greatest security comes from knowing that their dad values God above all else. When they know you will do anything to keep from displeasing God they will be confident that you will be there for them in their time of need– making them safe and secure. One of the greatest sights on earth is to see a family, led by the husband / father walk into church to worship. Make no mistake about it, the man who has God in his house should be in God’s house when it comes time to worship. I pray that you will be that man to your children. If you are so blessed to have such a father be a blessing to him.-HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
5801 FM 1960 E
Humble, TX. 77346
