Dad, Are You A Blessing

Many times over the years I can remember going to church on Mother's Day and hearing sermons on how wonderful mothers were. And rightly so.

I can also remember sermons over the years on Father's Day when the sermon talked to fathers about room for improvement. Probably rightly so.

The opportunity to be a dad is such a blessing. However being blessed and being a blessing are two different things. The first is a gift. The second is giving and sharing that gift with the folks we're around.

Sometimes we Dads get so wrapped up in the stuff we do and the problems we need to solve we forget to be that blessing.

One of a father's main responsibilities is to teach their children the importance of attitude. A positive attitude is a choice. A positive attitude is contagious. So is a negative one.

Fathers are examples whether they try to be or not. Being busy at it at the crack of dawn can be a good example. It can also be a bad example. It goes back to the heart. Why do we do what we do and who and what do we love the most?

We don't hear much about hero's anymore. Heroes used to be someone who saved the day. They were someone folks wanted to be like. Dad's, would it be ok if your kids turned out just like you?

Fathers are a big part of creating a family heritage. Heritage refers to something inherited from the past.

We can leave a heritage of stuff. It's our responsibility as fathers to leave a heritage of families that love the Lord and be a blessing to others.

As a husband, father, and grandfather God has been so good to me. It's called grace which means undeserved merit. It's my job to reflect that by example and action to others. 

I still get asked every week how that son is doing that got his eyes burnt by anhydrous last fall. He has to use eye drops every day but he can see fine and is a busy father of five. God is good. Many people get uncomfortable when we talk about a God that is close enough today to do miracles. The fact that BJ can see is a miracle.

I went to spray for this guy this past week. His father, a widower, still lives on the farm by himself. Last year this 90 year old came out to the field on his 4-wheeler and pulled right in front of my boom. I had to stop. I was in a hurry. I'm always in a hurry. He just wanted to visit. I enjoyed our visit.

This year I was in a hurry again. I worried he might come out and stop me. Then I worried he might not. The farmstead looked deserted. But then again it looked that way last year as well. As I pulled out and closed his gates I wondered about him and whether or not he was still around. Then I wondered about me. Am I always too busy to be a father or a friend to folks?

This week was hectic and I got caught up in it. It ended well. We got everything finished that needed to be done. All my frets and worries were unnecessary. When we fret and worry we are not the blessing God our Father calls us to be. I promise to try harder. Have a good week.