Father. What a wonderful word. Every person who lives on this earth has a father. That’s the way our God planned for it to be. Some have already said goodbye to their fathers and Father's Day is a memory to them. Others have absent fathers. For whatever reason they are no longer with their children. They may have deserted them, but they were there at one time. Some fathers on Father's Day are serving in the military and are not going to be with their children. The internet has helped immensely with being able to communicate while thousands of miles away in distant countries.

I fit the first category. My father has been dead for a number of years now but I still miss him and think of him. I wish he were here for me to ask advice, to go to a ball game or to laugh with. But life goes on and this is part of life.

I do have a heavenly Father I can turn to, however, and get great comfort from Him. He gives me advice (through His Word) and is with me wherever I go. Unlike my earthly Father, He is always present. He desires that I succeed in life and especially in my spiritual life. He has given me a very precious gift to make that come true—his one and only unique Son (Jn 3:16). I can talk to Him any time I want and I know that He will listen and hear me. He is never too busy or preoccupied to hear my cries for help and offerings of thanksgiving. And, He never thinks my thoughts are “silly”.

Fathers, take time for your children. They will only be with you for a short amount of time. After they leave home you will miss them. Use the opportunity God has given you right now to nurture them and help them develop into the person they should be.

Paul stated, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) Fathers, you are to provide spiritual training for your children. Do not neglect this important aspect. Teach them to hunt, fish, play ball and but even more, teach them of God!