The Loving Father (Father's Day)
Tony Thomas
Luke 15:11-32
Father's Day isn't nearly as big as Mother's Day. The florist isn't overworked, card sales aren't nearly as profitable, restaurants will be half-filled, and church attendance pales in comparison.
On Mother's Day pastors all across America praise Mom for her sacrifices, and everybody weeps. But on Father's Day we talk about absentee father's, deadbeat dad's statistics are recited, and we lay on the guilt for not being there for the kids. If you look up the word ''father'' in the dictionary it occurs just before the word ''fatigue,'' and just after the word, ''fathead!''
Billy Crystal was in NY when his daughter Lindsay turned 11. He phoned home to wish her a happy birthday and to apologize for not being there. Then he said, ''I've sent a large package that will arrive late this afternoon.'' Then he jumped on a non-stop flight to LA. Later, when Lindsay got home from school, the doorbell rang and when she opened the door she saw a large, six-foot box. When she opened it, her Dad was inside.
Crystal said, ''She hugged me so long I didn't think she'd ever let go!'' Then he added, ''I've missed 35 birthdays with my Dad. I'm not gonna let that happen with my daughter.'' Crystal was 15-years-old when his Dad died of a heart attack.
It seems to me that young fathers are making a concerted effort to become exceptional fathers. Maybe it's because you don't like what you see on TV. Or maybe it's because wives are more outspoken. Or maybe it's because your father wasn't around much - and you're determined to do better.
I also think that some of us have a more focused motivation. We're concerned about the moral decay of our culture, and we're also apprehensive about the temptations that face our children on a daily basis.
One of the highest-selling-issues of Sports Illustrated appeared on May 4, 1998 with the words, ''Where's Daddy?'' Professional athletes have fathered startling numbers of out- ...
Tony Thomas
Luke 15:11-32
Father's Day isn't nearly as big as Mother's Day. The florist isn't overworked, card sales aren't nearly as profitable, restaurants will be half-filled, and church attendance pales in comparison.
On Mother's Day pastors all across America praise Mom for her sacrifices, and everybody weeps. But on Father's Day we talk about absentee father's, deadbeat dad's statistics are recited, and we lay on the guilt for not being there for the kids. If you look up the word ''father'' in the dictionary it occurs just before the word ''fatigue,'' and just after the word, ''fathead!''
Billy Crystal was in NY when his daughter Lindsay turned 11. He phoned home to wish her a happy birthday and to apologize for not being there. Then he said, ''I've sent a large package that will arrive late this afternoon.'' Then he jumped on a non-stop flight to LA. Later, when Lindsay got home from school, the doorbell rang and when she opened the door she saw a large, six-foot box. When she opened it, her Dad was inside.
Crystal said, ''She hugged me so long I didn't think she'd ever let go!'' Then he added, ''I've missed 35 birthdays with my Dad. I'm not gonna let that happen with my daughter.'' Crystal was 15-years-old when his Dad died of a heart attack.
It seems to me that young fathers are making a concerted effort to become exceptional fathers. Maybe it's because you don't like what you see on TV. Or maybe it's because wives are more outspoken. Or maybe it's because your father wasn't around much - and you're determined to do better.
I also think that some of us have a more focused motivation. We're concerned about the moral decay of our culture, and we're also apprehensive about the temptations that face our children on a daily basis.
One of the highest-selling-issues of Sports Illustrated appeared on May 4, 1998 with the words, ''Where's Daddy?'' Professional athletes have fathered startling numbers of out- ...
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