The Joy of a Father

 

Being a father brings some of life’s greatest joys. I was privileged to have had a father who enjoyed his children. He wanted you to be around, found something useful for you to do, and taught you skills that made you feel valuable. My dad taught me to drive a tractor, weld, work with cattle, and scores of things that have been with me all my life. Most of all, he enjoyed being with me. I picked up that desire to be with my kids from him because they have been one of my fondest enjoyments in life.

Fatherhood was meant to be enjoyed. The little ones change so much in the first year, and it’s so much fun to watch them explore their world. Then the toddler years come where they are so funny. They say things so spontaneously that they take us by surprise. Like the time our son Eric said, “Look, the rain is licking up our hop-scotch from the sidewalk.” Or what our little daughter said in response to a car commercial with the car flying through the air, “Oh, what a strong car.” During a conversation with our little son Ryan, we told him that Daddy had Indian blood, which meant that he and his brother and sister also had some Indian blood. He was very puzzled and asked about his mother; we replied that she did not. To which he asked, “So what are you, mother, a cowboy?”

God was so good to me because I had a job where I could often take my kids with me for a few hours on almost any day. Honestly, I loved taking them with me and never felt more proud than when they were in my company.

Fathers, God gives us these unique years to love, teach and inspire our children, and because we do that, we get their admiration and respect for life. That is worth more than all the bonuses and financial incentives in the world.

One of my all-time favorite scenes in the Bible is when the prodigal son comes home to his father after his wayward journey that has ended in abject failure.  He finally comes to

his senses and realizes that everything he searched for was back home with his father.  “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him” (Luke 15:20). That day the son experienced his father’s forgiveness. The father’s acts of love are so profound, as he calls for the best robe to be put on him and to prepare the fattened calf for the celebration.

When a child grows up in a home with acceptance, forgiveness, and love, their self-esteem will be much higher. Fathers, our acceptance of our children will impact how they live the rest of their lives.

 

(Parenting with a Long View) https://bovdbrooks.com/

Maturity

I believe that we demonstrate our level of maturity by how we respond when things don’t make sense. When problems occur, when people disappoint us, what we hope for does not turn out the way we had hoped. Much the way Martha expressed her disappointment that Jesus showed up too late to save her brother Lazarus: “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:21). If we are immature, we will not be able to deal with the emotional chaos. If we are mature or at least maturing, we will trust God to help us make sense of the mess.

When things don’t make sense, we have our most challenging times. While John the Baptist was held in a dungeon, his resentment seemed greater with Jesus than with Herod. He felt betrayed because no prison doors opened; he was brokenhearted, but no Messiah came to bind it up. Most of all, where was judgment for sinners? In bitter disappointment, he asked, “Are you the one that is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus profoundly replied to John’s discouragement: “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Luke 7:23). Jesus told John not to let his disappointment undermine his trust when he didn’t understand God’s ways.

When Jesus responded to John’s question, he did not explain why God’s judgment had been withheld. There was no clarification of why Herod was permitted to stay on his throne and why the Romans were left unchecked. The biggest mystery is why Jesus, who opened blinded eyes and made the lame walk, never offered to free John. However, the one encouraging thing Jesus gave John was this, “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me” (Luke 7: 23).

The disappointment John felt in Jesus is seen today in people. They are the people who stop attending church and believing in God as they once did because God didn’t stop the death of their loved ones. They are disappointed because they didn’t get the promotion or gain the coveted success they wanted. Where was Jesus when their marriage was falling apart? These words of Jesus are for us today as much as they were for John. The message that Jesus sent was simply this: “John, you will be blessed if you do not fall away because of your disappointment with the way I choose to work.” And John took heart and remained steadfast to the end.

Faithful & True

 

The Apostle John wrote that Jesus is the Faithful and True warrior (Revelation 19:11). In a world where there is so much dishonesty and deception, it is refreshing to know one is faithful. Paul said God is faithful even when we are faithless (2 Tim 2:13). Even the greatest men and women in scripture had their flaws. But, there is one who is flawless. The Apostle Paul said it like this: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor 5:21).

It is hard to describe the disappointment when we hear about someone we respect who has been unfaithful. Their moral failure though unexpected, reminds us of our broken and unfaithful world. And, if we know them, it makes it even harder. However, this Warrior is faithful and true! He has never been unfaithful. He is the sinless Son of God.

When we were living in Corrientes, Argentina, we purchased a property for planting our first church there. It was a property with a tinglado—just a roof with metal legs. We paid a large amount in two payments. The second payment was due in 30 days, and a specific day was written into the contract. However, when that day was approaching, the government declared that banks would be closed for several days. I contacted the owners and let them know payment on that day would not be possible because the banks were closed. I could do it the first day they opened. They told me that I would forfeit the property and lose my first payment. I looked at the contract, and it did say that. I tried talking to them, telling them that it seemed unreasonable. They said they didn’t care what it appeared to me. Be there on that day with the money or lose the property and the first payment.

I contacted the only person who might have the money. He did, but no bank transfers were possible. I would have to go in person to get the money to a city 12 hours away. I could not get a plane or bus and get back in time. I would have to drive 12 hours there, stay no more than an hour and drive back. I did it and arrived at the owner’s house before the deadline. I knocked on his door, and when he opened the door, I was standing there with two briefcases full of money, and I said, “Do you want to count it before you sign?” That, my friend, is an example of an unfaithful and dishonest man.

Experiences like this that are not uncommon for us make us long for a world with no dishonesty. That will never happen here, but it will one day in God’s heaven. There will be no sin there because there will be no sinners. Our natures will be changed, and even our bodies will be transformed for heaven.

In John’s vision, he saw Jesus on a white horse. What a warrior John describes: “He is called Faithful and True, He judges with justice and makes war, His eyes are like blazing fire, he wears a crown that has authority overall. There are so many things about him that are beyond our understanding. He comes to fight a battle that will be over before it starts because he will simply speak the word. All those who have surrendered their lives to him will come with him for this battle (Revelation 19:11-16).

John’s vision can help us better appreciate our purpose, mundane though it may seem to us. It can inspire us to remain faithful to the sovereign King and make us long for our King to come and reign over us.

 (Parenting with a Long View) https://bovdbrooks.com/